Farmersville Unified opens LCAP public hearing; district outlines priorities, safety camera plan and capital options

Farmersville Unified School District staff on Tuesday presented the district’s proposed 2025–26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and a high‑level general fund budget to the Board of Trustees, detailing priorities that include literacy interventions, student mental‑health supports, career technical education and a proposed one‑time investment in security cameras.

A yearlong needs assessment: "Our district did go through a year long process to go through the needs assessment," a district staff member said during the presentation, describing outreach to parents, students, staff and community partners and a multi‑format review (LCAP committee, open forums, surveys). The presentation covered actions the district will propose in goals for student achievement, social‑emotional supports and family engagement.

Key proposed actions and funding highlights: The district proposed hiring additional reading specialists at Hester and Freedom elementaries, continuing and expanding instructional aides (district materials cite 20 instructional aides supported by the LCAP), sustaining CTE positions and braiding arts/music funding with Prop 28. The district said some capital and one‑time investments are planned from restricted funds, including an allocation toward the high‑school fire‑alarm project and a one‑time security camera purchase with an ongoing annual license option (ActiveNet) at about $14,400 per year for the service platform.

Learning Recovery funds and school safety: Staff said about $3 million remains in Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant (LREBG) funds to spend over the coming three years. The district proposed to use LREBG dollars to extend hours for attendance clerks, add a behavior counselor at the junior high and hire additional instructional assistants and a psychologist — actions intended to respond to post‑pandemic academic and social‑emotional needs.

Family resource center and community engagement: District staff noted the Family Resource Center action remains in the multi‑year plan as discontinued for now because the facility project would cost well over $1 million; the item remains in the LCAP for transparency, but no dollars were allocated this year. The presentation emphasized stacking events (for example, pairing literacy nights with student performances) to increase parent engagement and said some parent‑facing programs and translators will continue.

Budget overview and reserve: The chief financial overview showed the district’s combined general fund revenue for 2025–26 projected just under $50 million and highlighted that most projected shortfall through the multi‑year projection comes from restricted funds that will expire over the next few years. The district reported an A+ credit rating and recommended designating portions of the fund balance for fire‑alarm work, capital projects and facility maintenance.

Safety and facilities discussion: Trustees and staff discussed a separate facilities item: options for a new high‑school dining/cafeteria location and development near the agricultural farm. Facilities staff explained that a proposal closer to existing utilities (option 2) would reduce long‑term utility upgrades; option 1 (adjacent to the current cafeteria) would require significant electrical and service upgrades because the campus power panel is near capacity. Trustees asked about repurposing the present cafeteria for CTE uses if a new dining location is built; facilities staff said the current kitchen could be adapted for instructional/Culinary CTE with further investment.

Board process and actions: The board opened the public hearing on the 2025–26 LCAP as required for public input. Later in the meeting the board adopted Resolution No. 20‑06‑10‑25 approving the Education Protection Account (EPA) spending plan (motion carried unanimously). The board also reviewed and approved developer fee schedules and other budget items and set aside funds for capital and safety projects as part of the budget process.

What’s next: The LCAP remains a recommendation subject to final board approval on June 24. Staff said they will return with final budget and LCAP revisions as requested by trustees and that carryover dollars and one‑time funds require careful tracking before they expire.

Ending: Trustees and staff agreed to continue working on the facility site plan, security camera needs and parent engagement steps as the district finalizes the LCAP and the 2025–26 budget.