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Superintendent outlines HB2 funding changes, special‑education formula work and new GEAR UP grant; administration reports $2 million in staffing savings
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Summary
Superintendent Collazo told trustees that House Bill 2 passed the Texas House and could raise district revenues roughly $4.6 million under current enrollment assumptions, noted an evolving intensity‑based special education funding proposal, and announced a new GEAR UP grant and about $2 million in personnel savings from rightsizing.
Superintendent Collazo briefed the board on legislative changes, grants and staffing updates during the April 17 meeting.
Collazo said House Bill 2 passed the Texas House by 144‑4 and moved to the Senate. Using the district’s enrollment and attendance assumptions, she said the bill’s basic allotment changes could translate to an estimated $4.6 million in additional state funding for the district; she cautioned, however, that about 40% of that increase would be earmarked for teacher compensation under the bill’s draft language. “We’re looking at an estimate of about $4,600,000 basic allotment,” Collazo said, and the board discussed how much of any state increase would be available for local compensation decisions.
The superintendent also summarized proposed changes to special education funding: the Legislature is considering an intensity‑based model that would place students into weighted tiers and funding groups based on service intensity. Collazo said the proposal is still in development and that implementation details will affect local special‑education budgets.
On school safety funding, Collazo said per‑student allotments would increase under the bill (from $10 to $14 per student in the draft) and campus‑level safety funds would increase from $15,000 to $37,000 per campus; she estimated those changes together could yield roughly $600,000 in additional funding that could offset local safety contract costs.
Collazo also announced Victoria ISD received a GEAR UP grant that will serve students beginning in seventh grade and follow cohorts through their first year in college; Victoria College will serve as fiscal agent and the grant will support services at Patty Welder and STEM Bridal School. On staffing, Collazo said district rightsizing efforts have produced about $2,000,000 in projected savings; administration is reviewing which savings are from general versus grant funding and whether positions can be shifted to non‑supplanting federal grants.
Trustees praised student achievements and asked staff to keep the board informed as the legislative funding picture evolves. No formal action was taken on the legislative items; the board approved personnel hires presented in closed session later in the meeting.
