001our debt service fund. For those of you who don't know, the district passed $15.9 million in bonds for an upgrade to facilities, and through a debt service, we collect income to pay off that debt. Our proposed uh revenues for 2526 are expected to go down 3% um from 2.6 million to 2.5 million. However, the district is still able to balance our budget and pay our principal and interest payments for the following year. And the most important general operating fund, um we are expected to receive um 6.7 more um million dollars uh in revenues. um that the majority comes from state program revenues. Because they're state program revenues, we are mandated to um whatever we uh bring in, we have to spend on that intended purpose. And so we're expected to receive 40 million but our
002expenditures show that we are going to increase on the expenditure side about 7% from current year. Um as the board can see the majority of that increase is in function 11. out of the uh 6% increase, 13% um is going to be an increase for payroll to our instructional staff, teachers, IAS. Um and then we did have an increase in function 31, guidance, counseling, and evaluation services. the majority of that is due to uh salary increases through the state mandate of the compensation allotment. So, this is a side by side so that the district can see. Um, I'm going to reiterate from our local, state, and revenue side, we're anticipated to receive 40 million um in revenues, that's the the column in the middle on the left hand side. However, our expenditures we are going
003to anticipate to spend 40,430,000 for a deficit of $392,981. [Music] Does the board have any questions? This is the public notice that we are required to publish. Our total revenues 46 million. That includes child nutrition, debt service, general operating, and our total appropriated uh expenditure budget 46,451,99 for a difference in revenues to expenditures of $392,000formational only. I did provide this to the board. If you do get a chance, you can see that the majority of the expenditures um are allotted at the campus level. You can see that out of the $40 million uh dollar budget, 19% is allocated to the high school, 13% to the middle school. Um and then the elementaryaries range between 7 and 9%. And then of course our federal funds. Miss Nancy Guerrero did have a public hearing. We're anticipated to
004receive a little over $5.4 million in federal funds that the board does not have to approve. Do y'all have any questions >> on the proposed tax rate? We receive M tax rate and INS tax rate. M O uh the income that we receive should be paid based off of our general operating fund only. Anything that we receive from INS should be paid to our principal and interest on any bonds that we have outstanding. Um by law we don't get to choose the rate that we set. Um community members TEA the state of Texas tells us what rate that we have to adopt this year. TEA indicated that Zapata County had a decrease in valuations of 2%. Therefore, the mandated tax rate will be 6322. However, districts do have the option of adopting golden pennies. We
005are uh have historically adopted five golden pennies. So, our total uh tax rate will be 6.6822 6822 for a 4% a 4 cent decrease from previous year and our INS rate will stay the same. I do want the public to know that this tax rate will not impose an amount of the maintenance and operation taxes that exceeds the amount imposed in the preceding year. Basically, you're not going to pay more taxes. Um and then of course once we request for u approval of the tax rate we will be asking the board for approval for the five golden pennies. And I do want to give a special thanks uh everybody. Um the board of trustees along with our executive uh team and our finance department have has had monthly budget workshops since January. And so I'm
006sure the board's already tired of hearing me talk about finances, right? Um, but I do want to give a special thanks to all of you. Um, and that's it. If anybody has any questions, public comments. >> Thank you, Michelle, presentation, and for all of the hard work you and your department have done to prepare the budget. >> Thank you. >> I know it was not an easy feat, but thank you. So again, any public comments in regards to the 2025 2026 budget >> and if there is not then I'd like to adjourn this meeting. >> Motion motion by all those in favor we are adjourned from this public hearing and is 528. So let's move on to right on for the next meeting. I was already [Applause] >> sticker. [Music] Okay. Um, let's call this
007meeting to order. This is a regular school board meeting of trustees and it is Tuesday, August 19, 2025 and it is exactly 5:30 p.m. First item is roll call. For the record, we have a qu forum. All members are present. Item two, invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Heavenly Father, as we gather at the start of this new school year, we come together as a community united in the shared goal of nurturing our children's education and growth. We ask for your guidance and wisdom as we embark on this journey, ensuring that each decision we make is the best interest of our students. Bless our teachers with patience and inspiration, our students with curiosity and enthusiasm, and our parents and guardians with understanding and support. Help us foster an environment where their every child feels valued
008and encouraged, where regular attendance leads to academic success and personal development. May our schools be places of safety and learning, where collaboration and kindness thrive. We pray that our collective efforts will plant seeds of knowledge and compassion leading to a brighter future for all. In your name, we seek strength and unity to make the school year a fruitful and joyful experience for our entire community. Amen. At this time we have two ladies from Val Elementary, Lynette Gera and Montteraldo reciting the pledge of allegiance and the Texas flag. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. The next
009item we have some recognition recognition. [Music] >> Good evening board president Mr. Ramirez, board members Dr. It is with great pleasure that we welcome a very special group of students to our board meeting tonight. These students have achieved something truly remarkable. Perfect attendance for the 2425 school year. Today we celebrate their dedication, determination, and work ethic. Attaining perfect attendance is no small feat. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the families of these outstanding students. Behind every student is a network of support and we know that the encouragement from parents, siblings, and extended family members is invaluable. So, congratulations to all parents and families. [Applause] Additionally, we want to recognize the teachers and school staff who have inspired and guided these students. To the students themselves, we commend you for your hard work
010and commitment. You have set a high standard for yourselves and we are extremely incredibly proud of your accomplishments. I will I will now call all students to come by by school. So administrators, please join your school. The first school we're going to call up is Apata South Elementary [Applause] and assistant principal Miss Vicki Ger. [Music] Come over here. right in here. Make sure you get everything. [Music] All right. Any [Music] sixth grader that attended >> sixth grader who attended South last year we used to support South Elementary. [Music] >> Oh, wow. What a beautiful fruit. Everybody get a picture right here. >> All right. [Music] 3 One, two, and three. >> Congratulations. [Applause] Next one from the North Make sure you praise the Lord. Heat. Heat. How are you? [Music] I love your mother. Put
011on your backpack. Heat. Heat. Did you all get out? really [Music] love you. Heat. Heat. [Music] Are we ready? On three. One, two, three. Way to >> go. Congratulations. [Applause] One more. Congratulations. [Applause] Next we have and elementary school. Our entire district is now. I need I have Give me [Music] girl. over here. Heat. Heat. [Music] All right, everybody. Look at the camera. >> Two and three. Congratulations. [Applause] Next we have Zapata Middle School students. Please come up middle school. [Applause] [Music] That's what [Music] I need this. Are we ready? >> Okay. 1 2 and 3. [Applause] Finally, the high school students, please come up. High school, please come up. [Applause] Thank you. Heat. Heat. [Music] 1. [Music] >> Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] >> Thank you. >> So, good evening uh board members and
012our community members. I'm very um excited and I feel very privileged to be here tonight, not only to celebrate all of the wonderful students, but also to recognize the group of individuals that I got to spend how much time with? >> Like a lot. >> A lot more than they ever wanted. Uh we started for the first time our aspiring leaders academy. There were 27 participants in the academy and uh I have to to to brag on them because the first of all the vulnerability that they brought to the cohort to the session and being open to really embrace new learning and to strive for being better leaders that there is very much hope for what our future is going to hold in terms of our leadership pipeline. Uh although not everybody is here present
013today, it was an amazing group. We had so much fun. We made dreams come true. Where's Miss Oliv [Applause] got the opportunity to be she got an opportunity to be a cheerleader for the first time ever. So she said she could die happy because she had already been a cheerleader for ZCISD. So, we had a lot of fun and I'm very very honored and privileged to recognize them tonight. They completed all of the elements of the cohort. Uh we practiced interviewing. Um and they did a lot of laughing, a lot of learning. There was even tears at times. Uh but it was a great time that we we got to spend together uh learning about how we can be better leaders to serve our community and our students. So, thank you guys so much for
014everything that you did and for participating and being open to the learning. And now we'll recognize them individually and I'll turn it over to Raj to do that. >> Thank you Dr. Bino and good evening board members. Our first uh individual is Dr. Cla [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Dominguez. [Applause] Miss Sarah Flores, [Applause] >> Mr. Ro, [Applause] [Music] >> Miss Vicky Gyos. [Applause] Miss Becca volleyball. So, she's watching her daughter. >> Mr. Ricky Usman. [Applause] >> I'm happy to say that Mr. Usman has risen to a different level of leadership. He is now teaching at the middle school. Miss Joan, Joanna, [Applause] Miss Marie Gutierz, [Applause] Miss Anna Gray, [Applause] Miss Laasa, This is Diana, [Applause] Miss Claudia Garca, Miss Christina Garza, [Applause] Mrs. Sabrina Martinez, [Applause] Lina loan, [Applause] >> Mr. Robert, [Applause] >>
015Mrs. Ariana Ramirez Loano, [Applause] Miss Jessica [Applause] they got pizza, >> Mr. Javier Ramirez Jr. [Applause] Miss Marela [Applause] Miss Valeria Rivera, Miss Monica Bella Rodriguez, [Applause] Miss Myra Sanchez, [Applause] Mr. Selva, Miss Mrs. Erica, >> and Miss Jessica [Applause] cheer. You were going to do your cheers today. Can the cheerleaders please go in the middle and >> the cheerleaders in the middle? Whatever. >> No, no toe touches. window. >> Window. Window. Windows. New garlet. Window. Window. Okay. Perfect. Ready. >> One, two, and three. [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] Everybody got We can't [Music] go. attended students, great job and congratulations also for to the aspiring leadership. >> Thank you. >> Uh thank you, Mr. President. I just want to extend congratulations. First of all, we had an amazing couple of weeks of professional development. uh
016our convocation, I think we can all agree, was an amazing event uh that really showcased the talents of our students and set the tone for our year. Uh the first few days of school have gone very smoothly, knock on wood, and thank you, Jesus, because uh it could have gone in a different way. And we're very very fortunate um to have the support of of all the employees in the district to help make sure that happens from security and police to our sheriff's department and all the different law enforcement agencies. We thank them for their um continued support of our district uh particularly when it comes to traffic duty in the morning. Uh and that helps set the tone for how things happen during the day. Um everything is is running smoothly. We're we're proud
017to to say that we had a leadership meeting today in which we talked about uh the focus for the year and um the work that we are setting up for ourselves to do to make sure that uh we are uh stay the course and that we end up um in a in a better place than where we're starting. So congratulations to everybody. Uh welcome back to everybody and thank you for all of your hard work and effort. Um if consent items Michelle let me go ahead and do the first one. Uh item E1 approval of minutes for the special call board meeting and board workshop held on July 15, 2025. The public hearing and regular schoolboard meeting held on July 29th, 2025. I need an approve for that. I have a motion by second by
018others. All those in favor? Motion carries. Item F administrative reports. >> Hello again. Um we will um start the um finance reports for the month of July 2025. The child nutrition fund reflects total realized revenues of $3,66,565 and actual expenditures of $2,672,53 for um excess of revenues over expenditures of $394,512. Um, we will probably expect to have a fund balance at the end of the fiscal year due to a project that has been delayed. It's the uh serving line over at the middle school. Um, and so we're expected that that will be completed in September. The general operating fund reflects total realized revenues as of July 31st of um 28,380,933 and actual expenditures of 31,848,248 for an excess of expenditures over revenues of $3,467,315. uh board of trustees, the uh revenues do not reflect state
019aid um as per our appeal of our state assigned values. We're anticipating that that will not be until nearfal settle up uh at the end of September. Hopefully by October's board meeting, we'll have a better um estimate of how much we're going to either have excess or added to fund balance year-to- date comparative by function. Uh what do our expect? Of course, we have uh consistently seen an increase. Um and so again for the month of July 2025 we have 1,167,000 more in actual expenditures for a 3.8% increase as compared to previous year. Our debt service fund reflects total uh realized revenues of $2,856,822 [Music] actual expenditures of 9161,958. our year-to- date incumbrance, our principal and interest plus our additional principal that we collected uh is $2.6 million. As the board can see, we currently
020have in excess of revenues of $2,794,864. So, we do anticipate about a h 100,000 or more that will be uh added to the debt um uh restricted fund balance. Does the board have any questions? Bills, claims, and accounts for July 2025. Um this uh uh for the month of July, the finance department paid out 1,30,859.31 in bills, claims, and accounts for a 57% decline for $1.4 million less as compared to last year. At this same time, as the board can see, the majority of that was in our SR3 funding, which we no longer have at this point. Our tax collection report for July 2025, the district received 684,000 um after um uh attorney fees. What does that look like in respect to budget? Conservatively, our budget for this year was 9.1. that included our current,
021our delinquent, and our penalty. Um, as of July 31st, we are 108% over what was budgeted. We're at 9.9 million as compared to last year. Um, we are over. That is due to the certified values um increasing after we received certified values in July 2024. How does that compare to our opening levy? Since we uh collect taxes October through September, our opening levy is 9.7 million, our current tax collections reflect only 87% uh collected of the 9.7 that is currently on our tax role. How does that compare to previous year? Um we are actually down 29% as compared to last year. Does the board have any questions? >> Michelle, I have a question about that. With the news that we received today about the settlements, um does that impact this >> that impact that will
022impact our budget because we did not we budget based off of penalties and interest a certain dollar amount. We are now over that. So that will impact our local revenues. So, just for the board, we received a phone call this afternoon from our um t from line barker, right? >> Our delinquent tax attorney. Um and there was a major case that's been going on for the last three years that they've finally settled and as a result, the district will be receiving over $700,000 in a settlement payment. So, that will feed into this somehow. I wanted to surprise them. >> Oh, sorry. It's >> definitely a blessing surprise. >> So, that's going to be good. In fact, uh I think uh I was I was asked to invite on Monday at the commissioner's court. Um they're
023going to be putting an item to present um I guess the county and the district with like a big check, you know, symbol. not a real check. >> Uh so they'd like for us to attend the um the meeting on Monday, the commissioner's court meeting on Monday >> for that presentation. >> So just as a reminder, uh if we receive the check in August, that's when we realize it. Uh the board will not see that until September's financials. >> Any questions? Thank you. >> Okay. Item number two, instructional continuity beginning of the year professional development overview. Overview. >> Good evening, President Ramirez, members of the board, and Dr. Trevino. This report provides an overview of the key professional development activities conducted at the start of the school year to support instructional continuity and teacher preparedness.
024The curriculum and instruction department successfully organized and led the new teacher orientation ensuring that our newest educators receive essential training and district resources to begin the year confident uh confidentially. Uh this was held on the week of July the 28th through August the 1st. Uh we began that Monday with 11 new teachers and we ended the week with 60 new teachers. Uh as of uh you know today we are currently at 21 new teachers for the district. These were the topics that were covered and these topics were covered by uh the curriculum department as well as our executive directors. These are our teachers in action learning hands hands-on so that it could be modeled to them uh what to do in their own classrooms. To continue with the support for our new teachers, we have
025a new teacher academy. This is our third year uh under under my leadership. And what this is is a a monthly session that we bring them in and we provide additional support and we uh support them uh each of the department members uh provides uh based on these topics. We are also uh leading the mentor program through the mentor program a lotment cycle 4 and this program provides local education agencies the opportunity to build or sustain beginning teacher mentoring programs aligned to researchbased mentoring best practices with a primary goal of increasing student outcomes. Uh we were awarded $2,000 per beginning teacher for a total of $80,000. And this means that we will have 40 mentors uh uh trained to mentor our new teachers or any teachers that are new to their content area. I would
026like to thank Mrs. uh Chrissy Delgado for organizing all of it, our department and our executive directors for uh making it a very successful uh new teacher orientation and new teacher academy. Additionally, uh we have comp we had comprehensive district-wide professional development workshops at our campuses. Uh it was it was a a combination of targeted campus-based trainings during the week as well as um district uhwide trainings. So here you will see the topics that were addressed uh at the campus by our campus leaders and you also see our teachers in action this uh before the beginning of the school year. These are our district-wide trainings and these were brought together by different departments. Uh we had our our uh health and PE department go through Vienna. Our counseling uh being led by Mr. Clydea had
027the project lift. our Apple training led by uh Miss Connie Gray had uh our Apple training for our elementaryaries with our new devices. Uh we had the mentor training as well. Um CPR training and our uh special education was rescheduled. These efforts aim to align instructional practices, reinforce district priorities, and equipped our staff with the tools necessary for student success. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student excellence, and I will be happy to answer any questions that you all may have on the professional opportunities uh offered to our staff. Let's move on. Uh item G action items. Uh number one, approval of proclamation for attendance awareness month September 2025. >> Good evening board president, Mr. Ramirez, superintendent of schools, Dr. Delinho, board members and administrators. Today I stand before you to present
028the third annual attendance award proclamation for the upcoming school year 2025 2026. If I can please have the ladies that are our attending offices come up. Uh September marks the beginning of the attendance awareness campaign throughout our district and community. And I want to acknowledge these ladies. They do a tremendous job with our attendance. We have Mindy Flores at North Elementary and Elasio [Applause] Elementary, Vanessa Lopez at South Elementary School and Cina at school. And believe me, it takes a village to get those kids that are chronic absent years to come to school. And these ladies do a fantastic job. They knock on doors every day. They call home every day. Whether it's hot or cold or rain or shine, they're out there making sure our kids do attend school every day. Thank you, ladies.
029>> Thank you. >> During this period, we aim to connect with our community to identify students who have not yet registered for the school year. Right now, we are about 3,200 students, so we're still missing a few. So, we are out there knocking on doors and making sure those kids come back to us. Uh we believe that by joining forces with our school district and the community, we can ensure that every student at the county ISD attends school every day. It is vital for our community to collaborate in educating parents and guardians emphasizing that school is essential and their children need to be a present daily. We continue to below our motto and we can see the ladies were wearing their shirts. You matter, we care, we are ZCISD 100% attendance. Attendance recovery officers will
030visit the homes of some of our students, continuing to engage and educate parents about attendance, reminding them about our 90% rule and discussing some of the upcoming activities throughout the year. In the 2425 school year, our attendance rate was at 91.6% consistent with previous years and we are dedicated to improving it by 1 to 2% this year. Attendance continues to be a statewide challenge that we as a district are determined to tackle together. The attendance recovery officers will remain actively involved in our campuses spearheading efforts to recover students and manage attendance daily. Thus, I firmly believe that by working in UNICE, we can highlight the importance of school attendance by declaring September as attendance awareness month. So therefore, I'll read to you the proclamation I promised to be to be best. Whereas good attendance is
031essential to student achievement and graduation and we are committed to dedicating our resources and and attention to reducing chronic absentes and rates with a focus starting as early as prek kinder and kindergarten. Whereas chronic absence missing 10% or more of school alerts schools, community partners and families that one or more positive conditions for learning are not in place. Whereas students are more likely to attend school when positive conditions for learning, physical and emotional health and safety, a sense of belonging, connection and support, academic challenge and engagement, and adults and peers with social emotional competency are in place. Whereas the impact of absenteeism and punitive approaches to school discipline contribute to the achievement gap that spearheads stu that separates students for lost learning time in the classroom. Whereas showing up for school is an opportunity for
032students to build routines that can create a sense of safety and belonging, increase engagement and developing trust, trusting relationships with peers, teachers, and school staff that increase engagement and motivate them to participate in learning. Whereas reducing absenteeism requires taking a comprehensive approach that begins with prevention and early intervention and adopting trauma informed approaches rather than responding with punitive action. Whereas improving attendance and reducing absenteeism takes schools, families, and community partners working together to identify and address factors contributing to students missing school, particularly a lack of digital access, mental and physical health services, and access to basic economic supports, including food and housing. Whereas partnering with students and families to monitor attendance as well as understand and address barriers to attendance requires building it and sustaining caring relationships in regular communications in the home language spoken
033by families. Whereas re research found even before the pandemic that families had higher had high aspirations for their children yet faced significant barriers in getting their children to school or lack the knowledge that showing up nearly every day to school was crucial to academic achievement. Whereas taking attendance daily is in a con in a consistent manner and for different types of learning opportunities in person or homebound is essential to identifying when students begin to miss too much school. Whereas taking a positive problem-solving approach to reducing absenteeism requires expanding data to include reviewing chronic absence and attendance data for inerson and homebound availability of working contact information for families, connectivity, devices and internet and positive relationships. Whereas promoting attendance requires noticing as soon as possible, which we are already, when students are starting to miss too
034much school in order to engage students and families, identifying and offering need support and early intervention resources. Whereas ensuring an equal opportunity to learn requires using data to detect high levels of absenteeism and missed opportunities to learn by school, grade, and student population. Now therefore be it be it re be it resolved that the pathic county ISD stands with the nation and recognizes September as a attendance awareness month. We hereby commit to focusing on reducing abstentism and addressing the factors that cause students to miss school whether offered in person or homebound in order to ensure all children an equitable opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. We recognize that we must work together to engage students and families and send the message that learning can and must continue whether students participate in
035person, homebound or through blended approaches. Specifically, we will make clear that improving student attendance, including taking daily attendance in a consistent manner and monitoring abene continues to be a top priority. Encourage family engagement and sustain civic action to help families get their children to school every day. analy analyze our data to identify which students are most affected by chronic absence as well as to unpack common attendance challenges that need to be addressed. >> so to approve the attendance awareness for September 2025 motion by Luis G, second by >> Thank you. This will be the last uh budget amendment that we'll be requesting for the 2425 school year. And I I have to say that out of the 12 months, we requested six. And um this last one is due to I underestimated acred expenses. Uh
036but I'm requesting 55,000 transfers in between functions. This transaction has no effect on fund balance. You have any questions? If not, I need a motion to approve the budget 24-25-06. Motion by Garcia, second by favor. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh item three uh discussion possible action consideration and approval of a resolution by the board of trustees of Sapa County Independent School District providing for the deficit deficies of certain currently outstanding obligations delegating to certain district officials and staff the authority to effectuate matters within resolved. >> Mr. Um, so, uh, board members, uh, just as an update, uh, the district, um, we have two certified values. We have a certified value based off of M and then we have a certified value based off of INS. And INS is always higher because the district
037does have wind farms. And those wind farm property values are added to the tax role on INS. So it is in the best interest of the district. This will be the third year that we request a resolution for defecence. What that basically is is we are collecting um taxes based off of that higher valuation in order to pay the the debt quicker. Um the district uh previous year paid down 1.4 million in principal. This year we're anticipating to pay 1.1 million in interest uh for 2526 school year we're requesting additional principle of 850,000. Um, and I do want to let the board know that as part of the 89th legislative session, this will be the last year that we will be able to capitalize on the defense program um because it will no longer uh
038be allowable. Okay. Um, does anybody have any questions? >> Who would be the the ones that are are collecting? Would that be our representation? The that line borrower. Oh, our uh tax our tax assessor collects on those. Yes. >> Got any questions? >> I need a motion for to approve the resolution as a >> motion to approve. Second by all those in favor? >> Thank you, Michelle. Uh item four, discussion possible action approval of 2025 2026 bud budget. Uh, finally, we're here. Um, I uh proudly request approval of the 2025 2026 budget total budgeted revenues at $46,58,928 and uh allocated expenditures of $46,451,99 [Music] for an excess of expenditures over revenue of $392,981. [Music] um that we will balance from a fund balance. >> Do you have any questions? >> If not, I need a
039motion. >> We are still waiting the September um to hear back correct about the funding. Would that affect the 392? >> It depends on which way it goes. Well, the the budget is based off of proposed um uh projections such as average daily attendance. Right now, our enrollment did go down. Uh so, the initial uh projection was 3,200. Uh we're at about 31.88. Um and so I'm basing my budget off of 92% um ADA. Uh the other thing is our state assigned values. And so that has a big impact on our funding. Of course, every single month I will give continue to give the board reports. Um, but as of right now, if we do see additional funding, you'll see a budget amendment uh that I will request the board for approval on. That probably
040won't happen till January or February of 2026. >> Thank you. I want to thank you and your department and really everybody. It was a concerted effort to bring it down from the 4 million that you know was previously down to 392,000. Um and that was was not an easy feat. And so I I I commend you and your department and of course all the work that everybody's done to to band together to to buckle down and be able to reduce those expenditures um to get us to a place where we're, you know, we're not taxing the the the fund balance as much. >> And I do want to point out to the board that I know that we did have monthly board workshops and it, you know, it was a recommendation uh to cut across
04115%. Uh we did have administrative uh meetings where the staff did not like me because I was telling them that we were not going to cut. However, we uh were able to make sure that everybody sustained uh the same balance uh same allocations without disrupting uh the campuses uh or the student programs. And so I think the 392,000 uh could potentially go down to zero or more. Uh hopefully um you know with our tax collection uh the boards did see we do uh budget conservatively at a 92% tax collection rate. Hopefully we have a better year with our ADA. You know the four six weeks last year uh was really hard on the district. Uh so we're hoping that we'll come back from that and hopefully our state assigned values um we will not have
042state assigned values. So um of course I'll keep you all a breast and report every month uh to make a determination if that changes >> and this uh this number doesn't reflect the 700,000 settlement >> that that would be part of our 2425 settlement. >> Thank you. Mhm. >> I need a motion to approve the 2025 2026 budget as presented. >> I make a motion to approve it. >> Motion by second by all those in favor. >> Thank you. Item number five, discussion possible action approval of classification of fund balance for the 2025 2026 school year A and B committed fund balance and assigned fund balance. Um finance department requests approval uh to commit an assigned fund balance. Um as the the board can see this is uh partial historical 2324. We had originally assigned
0434.5 in order to balance our 2425 budget. However, that is going to go down significantly. Um, so relatively speaking, conservatively, um, we should end the, uh, school year, uh, 2425 at a $16.1 million unassigned fund balance. Okay. The district is at a $32 million fund balance, but about 20 uh million of that is restricted. 16 million is unassigned and it is at the discretion of the board to assign and utilize it as the board see sees fit. Its recommendation the the biggest recommendation uh for school districts is to assign unassigned fund balance. Every year I come with a recommendation to assign a certain percent of that 16 million to go towards uh capital improvements and projects which we uh never spend the whole amount and then a portion of it will go towards assigning or
044uh balancing our budget. This year I am recommending that we assign of the 16,6.5 to committed and 392,000 to assigned fund balance. >> Any questions? If not, I need a motion. >> Motion to motion by a second. Second by Michael. All those in favor? Motion carries. >> Thank you. Item number six is an action item, adoption of the 2025 tax rate by resolution. Um, I'm recommending approval of the uh tax rate for 2025 M at 68220 and our INS at.235. This rate will decrease by 04 cents from previous year. And I am obligated to announce that the taxpayers we will not impose uh an amount greater than we uh collected previous year. Um, for this approval, um, I will need for all of the board members to, uh, clearly state whether they, um, uh, accept
045or deny due to the tier 2 enrichment, gold, and pennies. So go one by one saying that they do accept >> because we need a superior majority and it needs to be clearly stated in the minutes. >> I'll make a motion to approve uh the tax rate and the golden pennies. >> I'll second that motion. >> Motion by Lee, second by go ahead. All those in favor one by one. >> I'm in favor of my in favor. >> Favor. I'm in favor. >> In favor motion carries. >> Thank you. Sorry, they're they're very particular about that. >> Item seven, approval of contract and purchases over 25,000 and fund balance expenditures of F25-26-01. Um, I'll be requesting our first approval of contracts and purchases that aggregate uh at or above 25,000. This will be our first
046uh request for approval for the year. Um, and I apologize to the board in advance. We tried to do something a little bit different this year. Um, and our directors and coordinators and just our departments did an amazing job. I don't know if y'all were able to see that backup, but uh typically the finance department is in charge of getting all vendors that we typically pay 50,000 or over. Well, because we felt, you know, 25,000 was going to be such a huge uh task uh on on the department, uh we sent out emails and the departments got um $8.3 million in requests for over $25,000 um over to us. So, thank you directors, coordinators. Uh y'all really did an amazing job. And so what this entails board members, it's the first request of the year.
047So the majority of these requests are our utilities, um our tech, our uh technology, uh licenses for curriculum and instruction, our maintenance and operation supplies that we typically uh spend 25,000 or over. Um and so the listing has been provided to the board. It didn't fit on this sheet, but it is in your backup. If you have any specific questions, uh please let me know. Um but I am requesting approval for uh purchases over 25,000 effective September 1st, 2025 from all funding sources. >> I need a motion for that. >> I make a motion to approve. >> Motion by second by motion carries. >> Thank you. Item A, discussion and possible action to adopt a resolution to join the South Texas School Board Association. >> Well, Mr. Mozanes comes up to the podium. I I
048just want to preface this with uh we we currently uh are a member or I am a member of the South Texas Association of Schools, um the STAS. Uh and it it this group is sort of like a spin-off of that so that boards have a voice um in uh you know some of the legislative work that's being done. I believe that our um SLI or was it SLI Mr. Mr. Garcia? >> Yes. So Mr. Garcia um he attended a a meeting anformational meeting uh during during SLI. So they have already then it was tenative they have um actually already formed the the organization um and so they're looking for membership. So what Roger's going to present is is a resolution to that effect. I I will add that like as part of the STAS,
049one of the things that that I was involved in was the testimony at the capital where we as a group went to um uh to to to testify to the legislators around the state assigned fund balance uh and some of the budgeting uh vouchers and things like that that they were discussing. So that's part of like lobbying and things like that. >> Thank you uh for that Dr. Dr. Tino. So, the uh the South Texas School Board Association uh has invited us to join uh their the the their um organization and uh be part of their mission to advocate for equitable funding uh informed governance and local leadership that puts students first. So, Sabata County ISD trustes has been invited and the annual membership would be $2,464 and that is based off of $ 3,200
050students at $77 per ada. >> And we'd also need a representative. I don't know >> if if approved by the board to join, we would uh I would request a member to to be nominated or to self uh nominate. >> Is this the first time we we joined this? >> Yes, it's a brand new organ. It's just like region one. >> It's No, it's not like region. No, it's not like region one. I mean, it's more of a >> It's more of a tasby, but a much smaller. >> It's a group of people representing South Texas, >> all board members. It's it's a it's a platform for board members to be able to have an active voice in legislation. instead of instead of going out there individually, you form a crew and showing more power,
051more more influence out there and hopefully we'll get they'll listen to us more. >> So, look, I've been a part of this the South Texas Association for the last three years and served as a board member because of our location. Um and you know we we discussed just like upcoming legislation and this last year um we were very active in uh Austin at the capital during you know during all the dialogues you get a heads up on kind of the things that are happening that you don't get from region one because region one can't advocate for that. >> Any other need a motion to approve that resolution? >> Motion to approve the resolution. >> I'll second that motion. Motion by Louise, second by Garcia. All in favor? >> I'd like to nominate accept that. >>
052Does any We're doing that right now. >> You said we had to do it or not yet? >> We can. Yes. We don't have we don't need an action item for that. But we would take your your nomination. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay to nominate as the u I guess >> the representative to the from the county ISD board trustees. >> Thank you. >> All right I'll submit your name to to the gentle. >> So we're voting on this. Do you second it? Those in favor? Motion carries. Congratulations. [Applause] Item number nine, approval to adopt resolution recognizing the extra career status of 4 organization. >> Uh yes, Mr. Ramides in the board. This is an annual renewal and administration recommends the approval to adopt the attached annual resolution recognizing the extracurricular status of the spat
053county for organization as presented. >> Can I get a motion? Motion >> motion by second by all those in favor. Motion carries unanimously. Item number 10 rule adjunct faculty agreement between the district and Texas agri live extension service. >> Yes sir. And this item is uh goes along with the previous item about the approval of of uh the faculty agreement. administration recommends the approval of the adjunct faculty agreement between the district and Texas Agri agra life extension service requested faculty member is Mr. Uh Jesse Frank Rodriguez a motion motion by second by all those in favor. >> Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. >> Item 11. Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the district and Larredo Medical Center. >> This is a new memorandum uh that the district has been working on
054for for some time. Uh we're recommending going into the district uh going into this memorandum to allow our students a greater opportunity, expand their opportunities for specifically our CTE students by providing enhanced clinical experiences in their placements. The bottom are the four the four LMC uh clinics that they will now if approved be able to to do their clinical rotations. >> Do you have any questions? >> No. Have a motion by Doris, second by all those in favor. Motion carries. Thank you. Item number 12, approval of a memorandum of understanding between the district and uh Pillar uh and the district have been uh have been Pillar and the district have been uh working together for some years now. I believe this is the beginning of the third year. uh and we have nothing but praise
055and good experiences with pillar uh as as our counselors and our principles could attest to. So administration uh recommends the approval of this memorandum of understanding between the district and pillar to continue to provide needed mental health support to our most needy students and the there is no changes between thisou and previous year second by all those in favor motion carries. Thank you. Uh item number 13 is the approval of one bus driver position. >> Yes. Uh administration strongly recommends the approval of an additional bus driver uh FTE to reduce our our our number of multiple routes. Uh and the Mr. Morales and I have been discussing this item for some time and we're requesting the approval of an additional FTE for this uh for the need of our students. >> Any questions? So that's
056an additional to what the budget just approved. >> I saw the agenda and I added it. >> It it would have been 350,000 fund balance, but because of the bus driver on top of things. Um item number 14, discussion and possible action regarding TRS retirement retire charge. >> Uh yes sir. This item ca is coming before the board due to changes to uh at the 89 legislative session on house bill 2 specifically and the repeal of section 825.4 409F TRS retiry higher search charges. So administration is requesting the board of trustees to take action so the district may take appropriate steps to implement said changes. In in in essence this is giving the the opportunity for the district to to have the employee pay the search charges or take the responsibility to pay it to
057continue to pay it. Now they have the option because house bill 2 repealed the requirement that the district pay those search charges on the retirey hire employees that we have. So for our district right now, we have three employees. I believe three or four three or four employees. >> I was going to say we pay about $60,000 in search charges. So we would be passing that cost back to the employee um instead of us incurring it. >> I thought we only have two there. There's we have uh five retiree hires, but TRS has certain um I guess uh adjustments. If they retired prior or after a certain year, the district has to pay 16.5% of their salary as a pension search charge. Prior to uh this bill, the district did pass that on to the
058employee, but after the 88th legislative session, they said, "You're not going to do that anymore. The district has to recoup that." Now, since it's repealed through the 89th legislative session, we have to ask the board if we want to pass that back to the employees. So, can we can we >> I I do want to also make a note that these employees um are uh at the highest of the scale and they are getting the $8,000 >> uh >> teacher t. But my my question is this. Are we able to because also of the three at least that I know of two of them are kind of in a high need area which is special ed and and English language arts, right? especially. So my question is can we keep can we grant are we
059able to grandfather them in and then any other new hires that are retiring higher would then have to assume the search charge >> or do we have do you know >> whether it's >> I thought we weren't assuming the search charge for anyone >> no we are but do we have the option to not >> but I thought I thought that's what we were doing >> right >> well that's that's what we have to decide right now that's why I pass it on. I don't know if we can choose >> we've been paying for it. >> So in other words, these employees say all >> right. >> No, no, they would be like >> they would face search charges to stop doing that. I'd like to tell them starting next year or something to budget
060and plan this to just change it. >> It sounds like it's for three three employees. That's 20,000 each. That's like a lot to just double all of I mean I and I get like >> that we had said we weren't going to. >> So by search charges, what do you mean by search charges? I thought it was like payroll taxes. >> It's a payroll tax. So basically the way it works is you have a standard gross. The district pays the 16 like the employee doesn't see that 16%. What we would do in the past is we would just do a deduction on their >> check that I don't know how the rest of you feel. >> I know that we had talked about we weren't going to, you know, rehire, retire, all that. I just
061feel that these employees were already in and I don't feel that they should pay for something that they've already been there like >> anything from now on. I >> I decision today. Can we look into the option and discuss? >> I'll make a motion to table it. >> I second. >> Yeah. A motion by by table it second by Mamar. All those in favor >> and the additional information requested is uh Frari. We want addition. I think the the what the the question is going to be are we able to split to grandfathering like we wanted to go ahead and keep >> beginning the 25 26 school year retire >> anybody that we hire that's a retire then they would be assessed the charges but our current ones would say that's the that that's what
062I'm >> that makes more sense they're already >> got it okay >> and if you were going to make that kind of change we need to give more than >> definitely >> like at least a year's notice starting next here. >> Those are two different options and and we'll present both. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh let's move on to item 15, approval of the 2025 2026 test calendar. Anybody? >> Thank you. >> In accordance with law and administrative regulations, the district shall appraise teachers annually using the Texas teacher evaluation and support system. Components of the appraisal process will be conducted on a schedule that's indicated in the 2025 2026 test calendar. There are uh key dates for orientation training and those are stated in the calendar for our goal setting and professional development
063plan for observation pre-conference and and observation and for our end ofear conference and written summitive annual appraisal. It is recommended that the board of trustees approve the tagest uh calendar for 2025 2026. >> There's no questions on motion by second by all those in favor. Motion carries. Thank you. Item 16, approval of the 2020 2025 2026 test appraisers. Sorry. Any employee that will formally evaluate teachers is required to obtain test certification prior to conducting teacher evaluations under the Texas teacher evaluation and support system. Um the the test appraisers are campus administrators, principles and assistant principles, our executive directors, our directors and our coordinators. And you have been provided with a list of 27 individuals that are certified. It is recommended that the board of trustees approve the 2526 Test appraisers. Those in favor motion carries.
064Thank you. Uh item 17, approval of memorandum of understanding between Sapata County Independent School District, Laredo College and Texas&M International University College Pre Mathematics and College Prep English Language Arts. The state of Texas mandates via HB5 section 10 and section 28.014 of the Texas Education Code that each school district shall partner with at least one institution of higher education to develop and provide courses in college preparatory mathematics and English language arts. Uh the goal is to support students not ready for college to transition transition into college level work without remediation. Uh these courses are delivered either on campus uh online or via distance learning and this is a collaboration between uh ZCISD Laredo uh college and Tammy U. Um it is for a term of one year uh beginning in August of 2025 and ending
065August 2026. It there could be termination be u either party within 30 days of written notice. Uh there are shared responsibilities. Uh we share student success data. We recognize course completion. We advise students and we may offer uh for dual credit. Uh there are math specific uh partnership responsibilities and ELA specific. For mathematics it's to provide the student learning outcomes, the syllabi and the end of course assessment. For RLA it's to provide the the syllabi, the uh evaluation tool and the end of course assessment. and for both it's collaborate for professional development for our instructors and to support TSI A2 testing. Um, our responsibilities are to provide qualified instructors, uh, to identify our eligible students, to collaborate on PD and instructional materials, to mark successful completion on transcripts, to administer our final exams, to notify
066students and parents of course benefits, to ensure materials include technology and best practice, and to award high school credit. Uh the benefits are entry into college uh level courses and entry into English 1301. Um legal and administrative provisions. There is a 90-day correction period or termination for non-compliance liability uh and indemnification um for book compliance with our student data. Uh there is no funds exchanged governing law and no waiver of immunity. So it is recommended that the board of trustees uh renew theou for the 2526 school year. >> I'll make a motion to approve the memorandum of understanding. Motion by second by Martinez. All those in favor. >> Thank you. Item 18 approval of the strong foundations implementation plan part C. This is >> school board president school board members and Dr. Trevinho. This is
067a strong foundation implementation plan part C and the purpose of this presentation is to present part C of the strong foundation implementation plan the award amount and to request formal board approval to proceed with the implementation TA it's a TA initiative under the lasso cycle uh three SFI part C it is designed to improve core instruction in reading and math math and in our case it is math. We were uh awarded for math focus on high quality instructional materials, professional learning and aligned structures. What does SFI part C look like? It's a comprehensive implementation plan that promotes highfidelity use of blue bonnet learning materials. It supports school systems by reviewing grant related deliverables. It provides actionable feedback to school leaders and it's monitoring progress and completion of data. So a product support from region one
068it means that there's an implementation advisor that helps out and supports our district and school leaders. We also have a product advisor who supports teachers and coaches. So the benefits of uh part C is that teach there's teacher teacher and coaching trainings we set goals we create expectations leading uh internalization and PC's we establish observation and feedback practices we align assessment strategies midyear setback meetings and learning walks and yay great