[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6104890,"mediaKeyId","2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6","parentId",2788267,"title","Mercedes ISD survey: parents and students favor STEM, outdoor learning and arts; district to hold town halls","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",3675415,"endMs",3864000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6&start=3675&end=3864","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6/thumbnail_3675415.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6104890/Texas/Mercedes-ISD-survey-parents-and-students-favor-STEM-outdoor-learning-and-arts-district-to-hold-town-halls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104890-1ed48dbd417ba721f58ebab8c27b149c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=K9QKQbhPSrEpxPnghMtGzor0yDJIfLxqQ-pTG5PYHXKh1CVEqrsGM8005tMQxU8G~xEhYhdk5sO5Xd~Xp3Q0JmwMpnmPf8ASrmSf1VdshjJMi-iWguTZ4rbmFIFh4N-YuF-B1yjrAY~8OB637Y6AkEuTzbFI8NVuvbJbv1zFVekPV37CR1g1xo-zxqBX5td~Zy5nx7OdVChqKTQDIOBMhb5YtGG8G8jq5HhQqQ39z~fJOSkTn~15VqL1QLWAVOMUZQhBPDLUt~8Twl~Qx5n1K-nrro6JTmtjXmZlYrCQkfFgYTIQamyurzkbqs0QIXq1eJxsBCxDVMQefTR9eU-8nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mercedes ISD","date","2025-03-27T06:29:09.667Z","article","Mercedes Independent School District leaders presented the results of a district survey and announced a series of town hall meetings to gather more input on program priorities, including STEM, outdoor learning and fine arts.

Dr. Clinton, the district presenter, summarized the survey results and said the district closed the survey March 16 and analyzed family, student and staff responses. He said parents ranked STEM, outdoor learning and fine arts as their top three priorities and that “there's a lot of alignment between what families want and what students want.”

Why it matters: program priorities affect how the district will allocate limited resources in the budget process. Trustees and staff said they will use town halls to refine what families mean by terms such as “STEM” and “hands‑on learning” and to identify partners and potential grants.

Survey details and next steps

- Parents: the presentation reported 67 percent favored a STEM focus, 55.3 percent outdoor learning (including FFA/AG and elementary gardens) and about 50.9 percent cited fine arts.
- Students: at middle and high school levels, students showed strong interest in STEM and career‑linked academic rigor; elementary students favored interactive, play‑based clubs.

Dr. Clinton said the district will begin town halls on Thursday at the Mecca campus and will follow with sessions at Hinojosa and Harrell. “I'll be at other campuses,” Dr. Clinton said, and invited families, students and staff to attend and clarify how the district should prioritize limited resources. Trustees said they expect the town halls to inform budget decisions and help the district target investments for the most impact.

Ending: District staff said they will bring survey findings and town‑hall input into future budget workshops to guide decisions on labs, outdoor learning spaces and extracurricular programming.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MISD Board Workshop 3 25 25","oneSentenceSummary","District survey responses cited STEM, outdoor learning and fine arts as top priorities for families and students. The district plans a series of campus town halls to discuss program priorities and resource allocation.","taxTitle","MERCEDES ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",56460,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104895,"CFO: Mercedes ISD health insurance fund faces shortfall; plan to seek cost savings without cutting core benefits",264,3335935,3600315,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6&start=3335&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6/thumbnail_3335935.jpg","/articles/6104895/Texas/CFO-Mercedes-ISD-health-insurance-fund-faces-shortfall-plan-to-seek-cost-savings-without-cutting-core-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104895-f361edf31bc757cbf9255b3750db6083/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=hWw8QDDGewc5bcu9DzHiv0go2yLStmJOl-aTyMZTHIZUWSliJBAYjiMPGCgSI3mm5L23ZYgrU7UCdUdZzRz2G0bpayHQc5BvhyzxcT1AWy7ItEmZ6ZVeYsAiuCzf86qUtcs~fOekb4IS6JnrXUzelQpqUnnwrBS-qbbmxdDpWl8~cZtd6zQuZQ5FhuSfqCheCksDfGQEFCcgbRjV0sRNZRH-AJSPhkl2Ovf1QaDhFi8j4NLnGvKzmKGEQFjWGEiRL1BgnrzSWVjJucg6IuywClTUVCondChVYx7aDR-sjTI5UeQCRtvgyKzDbDeTzKWkrU8RqiylS4wfArqL~C6MFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercedes ISD financial staff told trustees March 18 that the district’s health insurance fund is projecting a year‑end shortfall and will likely require a transfer from the general fund if current claim trends continue.

Miss Garza, the district chief financial officer, presented the health insurance fund figures and said the September‑through‑February run rate extrapolated through August produces an estimated $1.8 million shortfall in the insurance fund and a projected year‑end fund balance of about $967,241. “So we would we would have to go to the general fund and pull $967,000 out of the general fund to pay medical bills,” she said.

Why it matters: the health insurance fund pays employees’ medical and pharmacy claims. A shortfall in that fund can require the district to transfer general fund dollars to cover claims, reducing money otherwise available for operations.

Details and next steps

Garza provided month‑by‑month claims history and cautioned that claims are volatile; she identified January 2025 as an unusually high month for claims. To address the shortfall, Garza said she met with the district’s health insurance consultant and the insurance committee and plans to present cost‑saving options to the board that aim to reduce the fund deficit without removing core medical benefits for most employees.

Garza said revenue to the insurance fund comes from employee and employer premium contributions and that current payroll‑driven premium receipts were estimated to yield roughly $5.2 million in local revenue; estimated expenditures extrapolated to about $14.0 million. The board discussion noted that some months’ claims spikes make year‑end outcomes difficult to predict and that future workshops will include updated claims and revenue information.

Ending: Garza told the board she will return with recommended cost‑containment measures and noted the insurance committee had begun that work; trustees asked staff to present clear options that preserve employee coverage where possible.","The district’s health insurance fund is projecting a shortfall for the 2024–25 year; the CFO said staff will present cost‑saving measures to the insurance committee and possibly the full board.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104899,"Mercedes ISD CFO warns of preliminary 2025‑26 deficit and legislative uncertainty",750,2154700,2905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6&start=2154&end=2905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6/thumbnail_2154700.jpg","/articles/6104899/Texas/Mercedes-ISD-CFO-warns-of-preliminary-202526-deficit-and-legislative-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104899-28c9b571ef97874eaf16a1a227a94bf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=hnntKxkWfmU1GZaXB4YcwLhJ5OmkkhYqhefTtfN66JiVqGL08P0ZvddreMMYWIYq8EMg1f6M1FukeQ-5prKbCEgcuif7Tz65HuIGPb8703TrKBQQ2t-6ClTncsWMAXlB7zcgVN3ZSaXiKlCNyjeFnjlbl7RNmByOSGMhbQl8shaK6t-gGi29GTXC4ySs74Z0JU9TJRHmxkNeHzsWaeYIPVfZeg52BdVu1V2B2LgOEKP5KWHYq-xjQJgV5vQV~T9N17QiSb2sUuO-sGeiGE7jYWtM7fWqA-afqmr~ImttB0Le~oFCfoR5-Y2NYRsnwbIHDWXj4zFlzL2UytVysXb5fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercedes Independent School District officials told trustees March 18 that the district’s proposed 2025–26 budget is preliminary and sensitive to pending state legislation, property value changes and attendance projections.

Miss Garza, the district chief financial officer, opened the budget section by telling the board, “This is very preliminary.” She laid out revenue estimates already baked into planning — including a working assumption of a $220 increase in the basic allotment per ADA used in early revenue modeling — and listed several pending bills the district is monitoring, including proposals described in the workshop as a teacher retention allotment, property tax changes and a potential education savings account program.

Why it matters: state allotments, property values and tax compression can materially change local revenue. Garza warned trustees that the district’s 2024–25 amended budget included a planned deficit of about $5.1 million and that under the workshop’s current revenue assumptions the 2025–26 general fund would still show a projected deficit (staff discussion identified a $4.2 million shortfall under the assumptions shown).

Key revenue and fund balance points

- Garza said the district’s adopted interest and maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate is 34¢ and recommended maintaining that rate pending further analysis with the financial adviser.
- The district’s audited fund balance from the prior year was presented as $14.6 million. Under the board’s previously approved amended budget, that balance would fall to about $9.4 million at the end of the year if no further changes are made.
- Garza said the district’s 2025–26 planning assumes conservative ADA and enrollment (an ADA estimate of 36.41 and enrollment of about 4,001) and that if attendance holds above the conservative estimate the district would receive additional revenue at settle‑up in September.

Legislative and local uncertainties

Garza listed pending legislation the district is watching (as described to the board): increases to the basic allotment, a teacher retention allotment, proposed changes to property tax exemptions and a possible education savings account program. She noted the Texas legislative session was scheduled to end June 2 and said the district will update projections as bills are settled.

Garza also reminded trustees that county appraisal values and any new tax compression could reduce state funding. She said the district is “working with our financial adviser to possibly do another deficiency resolution to maintain [the M&O rate] at the 34¢.”

Board direction and next steps

Trustees asked for more detailed comparisons of budgeted versus actual revenue and for month‑by‑month tracking of ADA and revenue. Garza said staff will continue to update the board at subsequent budget workshops and provide clearer reconciliations between budgeted and expected receipts. The district will also hold a series of town halls to discuss program priorities and how limited resources will be allocated.","At a budget workshop, the district CFO outlined preliminary revenue and expenditure estimates for 2025–26, noted possible impacts of pending Texas legislation and recommended maintaining the current M&O tax rate while staff refine projections.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6104904,"Mercedes ISD reports falling enrollment and staff counts; HR recommends rightsizing, cross-training",180,24465,204599,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6&start=24&end=204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2788267-6c30f57a34709a7007bc9184d4cfb2e6/thumbnail_24465.jpg","/articles/6104904/Texas/Mercedes-ISD-reports-falling-enrollment-and-staff-counts-HR-recommends-rightsizing-cross-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6104904-1978eb13dc76a71e36e7f0105be32a84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=kMYXaNSTAdxilXxOx7vf9dSTFeIQzb0Te8Zrmi-oLGLiddu1SGhQgAdH92ezWTEGV9beQlVSgUrvi7KCi2nJhJnl4DQvtrhUDTcmfWYpwBE5zuHWpevt-4jqq2RpPKJZeuJZgzLgwQa8Su7uVduK7Ghc0hQXTgLTo2MPcy~v7oQVhX73Mopb8WQGPxpGfHuQ6z8iCM3tQ0cgn9qkJrM1zOp6URBTij8sn5bk0Y2CmpU52ctXoyKvuQ~8MFS-WqKRSBqkIPqb82yHoY04ydguFFnKFwT5rEiU2dGyjd-fyw5JUCx1q3GtUF9R96RtylAg3CPVyybVn3J0wx6Nag~EKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercedes Independent School District trustees heard March 18 that student enrollment and employee head count have fallen since 2019, and human resources laid out options to “rightsize” staffing and limit future hiring.

The human resources director, Miss Flores, told the Board of Trustees the district recorded “a total of 716 employees based on the count that we did March.” She said the district began the year budgeting for 724 employees and that attrition is expected to reduce head count further: “My last count was 697 going into next year.”

The presentation tied the staffing numbers to enrollment. Miss Flores said the district’s fall snapshot showed 4,208 students and a teacher count that yields a student‑teacher ratio of about 13.5 to 1, compared with the district’s earlier ratio of about 13.9 to 1. “If we follow that same trend, we will be 75 students down in enrollment next year,” she said. The presentation noted a net enrollment loss of 733 students since 2019–20.

Why it matters: state school funding and many staffing allocations are driven by average daily attendance and enrollment. The HR presentation warned the district remains above state and peer benchmarks for total employees and support staff in particular and recommended aligning staffing with projected student counts.

Details and proposals

Miss Flores and district leadership discussed three categories of options: adjusting staff‑to‑student ratios; cross‑training or combining roles and using part‑time positions; and expanding grant‑seeking and alternative funding. “One being rightsizing our staff to student ratios … using methods such as cross training and part time positions or combined roles,” Miss Flores said.

The district also flagged the role of federally funded positions in the totals: the presentation counted 87 full‑time employees paid from federal or competitive grants, with roughly $3.9 million in base salary paid for those roles. Garza, the district chief financial officer, and others noted that grant‑funded positions can create a mismatch between head count and locally funded obligations because those roles may end when grant funding expires.

Board and staff discussion emphasized minimizing classroom disruption. Dr. Clinton (district leader) told trustees that while some support and administrative roles may change, the district “does not project very many changes” among certified teachers assigned to their core subjects and grades. Trustees raised employee well‑being; one trustee pressed whether staff moved to new duties would be consulted about the change. Miss Flores said the district would notify and involve employees early in the process and look to fill vacancies internally when possible.

Clarifying details

- Head count: 716 employees (March snapshot); budgeted at 724 at start of year; district reports internal count of 697 projected going into next year.
- Enrollment: 4,208 students (most recent fall snapshot); net decline of about 733 students since 2019–20.
- Teacher counts cited: roughly 306 teachers (March snapshot) vs. peer benchmark of about 279.
- Federally/competitively funded employees: 87 FTEs paid from federal/competitive grants (~$3.9 million in base salary).

What’s next: The HR director said staff moves already underway reduce head count and that the district will prioritize internal placements when possible. Trustees and staff said they will discuss specific position decisions in future workshops and that the district will use town halls and follow‑up meetings to explain changes to employees and families.

Ending: Presenters characterized this workshop as an early, preliminary view of staffing and said the board will receive updated data in future budget workshops as attrition, grant timelines and legislative changes become clearer.","At a March budget workshop, Mercedes ISD human resources and district leaders outlined a multi‑year decline in student enrollment and staff head count and proposed rightsizing strategies including cross‑training, substitute pools and pursuing alternate funding sources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mercedes ISD survey: parents and students favor STEM, outdoor learning and arts; district to hold town halls

CFO: Mercedes ISD health insurance fund faces shortfall; plan to seek cost savings without cutting core benefits

Mercedes ISD CFO warns of preliminary 2025‑26 deficit and legislative uncertainty

Mercedes ISD reports falling enrollment and staff counts; HR recommends rightsizing, cross-training