April 23, 2026 Staff Newsletter

On the cover: Congratulations to Franklin Elementary School. They placed first in the Battle of the Bluebonnet Books, a citywide competition sponsored by the San Antonio Public Library.

Thank you, NISD Partners

As part of National Volunteer Month, Northside ISD hosted its annual Outstanding Partner of the Year event. It was a powerful reminder that when a community works together to support its schools, the momentum is truly unstoppable. 

The event celebrated the hundreds of volunteers and business partners whose dedication enriches the lives of thousands of NISD students.

Click here for a list of District-wide winners. Click here for pictures from the event. 

Mark Your Calendar

The NISD Retirement and Recognition Celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, at the Northside Sports Gym beginning at 6:30 p.m. The annual event honors employees with 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 years of service, as well as retiring staff members. 

Transitioning from Zoom to Google Meet

Over the past few months, you’ve likely seen weekly "Tech Tips" that highlighted the new features and capabilities of Google Meet. From breakout rooms to live translated captions, we’ve explored how these tools can enhance our classrooms and meetings.

Important Change for the 2026-27 School Year

With such significant improvements in Meet, Northside ISD will transition exclusively to Google Meet for district-hosted video conferencing. Effective June 2026, the district will no longer issue or renew Zoom licenses. 

Why the Switch? 

By focusing our efforts on a single platform, we can provide better technical support, tighter security, and a more seamless experience for students and staff. This change also results in significant cost savings for the district. By moving away from paid Zoom accounts and using the tools we already have in Google, we can put those funds back into our classrooms and student programs where they are needed most.

Features You’ve Seen (and Some You Haven’t!)

Google Meet is designed to handle everything from small-group instruction to district-wide presentations. Here is a quick refresher on the tools now available to everyone:

• Capacity: Up to 1,000 participants with no time limits (500 participants can be active at a time)
• External Guests: External participants (those not with Northside) can now join Meet.
• Enhanced Engagement: Use breakout rooms, Q&A, and live polling.
• Seamless Documentation: Easy recording and automatic transcripts saved to Drive.
• Accessibility & Clarity: Live translated captions and background noise cancellation.
• Administrative Ease: Automatic attendance tracking sent to your inbox.

Support & Next Steps

We know changing your routine can be a challenge, and we’re here to help.

• Targeted Communication: For staff who host a high number of Zoom meetings 
• Resources: Visit nisd.tech/google for Google Meet resources.
• Mini Lesson Open Now:  Visit nisd.tech/techhub for a Mini Lesson on Google Meet features.
• Summer PD: Watch for upcoming sessions focused on the new Meet environment.

Please visit nisd.tech/google for resources, and stay tuned for continued communication in the coming weeks. We’re excited to move forward with a more integrated and cost-effective virtual meeting space for all of NISD!

Sharing Files and Folders in Google Drive

In a collaborative environment like ours, it is easy to default to the broadest sharing settings to ensure everyone can see a document. However, it is important to understand exactly who is included when you select the option to share with the entire district.

When you set a file’s access to the district level, you grant access to every person with a district login. This includes all administrators and office staff, all fellow teachers, support personnel, and all students across all grade levels.

If a file is "Shared with District" and "Searchable," it can appear in the search results for any student or staff member who types in a related keyword.

What to Avoid Sharing Globally

Broad sharing is great for public resources like campus newsletters, lunch menus, or blank template forms. However, it should never be used for documents containing:

• Student grades or progress reports.
• IEPs, 504 plans, or medical information.
• Disciplinary records or sensitive counselor notes.
• Private staff information or personnel files.

To keep our digital workspace secure and protect the privacy of our students and colleagues, consider these steps:

• Targeted Sharing: Instead of sharing with the whole district, share directly with specific individuals by entering their email addresses.
• Utilize Restricted Groups: If you need to share with a large team (like a grade level or a specific department), use a restricted Google Group. This ensures only those currently in that professional group have access.
• Audit Your Drive: Periodically review the "Shared" status of your folders. If a project has concluded, consider changing the permissions back to "Restricted."
• The "Wait and Verify" Rule: Before hitting "Send" or "Save" on sharing settings, take three seconds to verify that only the intended recipients are on the list.

Have questions about a specific folder or file? Your Campus Technology Support Specialist (TSS) is available to help you review your settings and ensure your data is secure.

Literary All-Stars: Celebrating the Top Readers in the Great SA Challenge

Kudos to Burke and Chumbley Elementary for making the Final Four and placing third and second in the Great SA Reading Challenge! 

Inspired by NISD Trustee Bobby Blount, this NCAA-inspired competition brought together 105 schools and nearly 10,000 3rd graders from across San Antonio—all reading beyond the school day to rack up minutes and advance through the brackets.

The celebration was just as exciting, featuring professional breakdancers, a magician, Brandeis Cheerleaders and Dance Team, Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Spurs Coyote, and a whole lot of excited readers!

Also, a shoutout to Wyatt from Scarborough ES and Genevieve from Chumbley, who placed 1st and 3rd in the individual reading contest! View pictures of the event.