Mercedes ISD board approves insurance renewal, budget amendments, summer programming and other measures

The Mercedes Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a slate of administrative, budgetary and program items during its April regular meeting, including the renewal of student athletic insurance, a multi‑part budget amendment, contract renewals and the district's summer programming and optional flexible school day applications.

The actions largely passed by unanimous vote. Separate coverage has been published for the board's award of the general‑counsel contract, which passed 4–1 with one abstention.

Votes at a glance

- Student athletic insurance renewal (FY 2025–26): The board approved renewal at the same premium amount as the prior year, $133,575, with no rate changes. Recommendation to renew was presented by district staff; the motion was moved by Mister Hernandez and seconded by Ms. Trevino. Vote: unanimous.

- Budget amendment: The board approved General Operating Budget Amendment No. 5 and an Internal Service Fund 1 amendment. Highlights included creating a separate Child Nutrition budget (May 2025) of $66,500, planned Child Nutrition equipment purchases of $215,000, and an internal transfer to the health insurance account to cover a high claim (approximately $1,802,030) that the district will submit for stop‑loss reimbursement. Recommendation moved by the superintendent; the board approved the amendment unanimously.

- External auditor contract renewal (annual audit): Trustees approved a one‑year renewal with the current auditing firm under the district's cooperative purchasing allowance. The board approved the extension unanimously.

- Security guard services: The board authorized staff to solicit proposals for security guard services for the 2025–26 school year. The superintendent said the current contract expires July 31; the motion to go to RFP passed unanimously.

- Texas State Billing Services (TSBS) renewal: Trustees approved renewing the district's third‑party billing services contract with TSBS after staff reported responsiveness and projected savings; the vote passed unanimously.

- Summer school program and summer pay addendum: The board approved the summer school program overview, projected payroll without benefits, and a summer pay rate addendum to the district compensation plan; the motion passed unanimously.

- Optional Flexible School Day Program (OFSDP): The board approved the OFSDP application for summer 2025 (to generate ADA funding for certain secondary summer hours) and separately approved the OFSDP option for the 2025–26 school year for the district's MA (academic academy) campus; both votes passed unanimously.

- Board resolution: compensation for employees for emergency closure on March 28, 2025: The board adopted a resolution authorizing the superintendent to excuse absences and pay employees for time missed because of the flood closure, citing Texas Education Code 45.105(c); the motion passed by unanimous vote.

- Early notice-of-resignation incentive extension: The board authorized a retroactive extension of the early‑resignation incentive to accommodate employees affected by the flood and authorized another round of incentives for select classified positions (secretaries, clerks, receptionists); the motion passed unanimously.

- Consent agenda: Trustees approved the consent agenda after trustees pulled two items for separate review. Donations and routine items were approved unanimously.

Ending: The board moved into executive session on personnel, student discipline and privileged attorney consultation at 8:19 p.m.; items discussed in executive session were not disclosed in public minutes.

The district staff will return to the board with final contract documents, RFP timelines, and budget adjustments as required by the items approved.