HCISD trustees approve 2025-26 calendar, budget moves, finance reports, facilities payment and authorize superintendent search

The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a series of operational and fiscal items during its meeting, including the 2025–26 academic calendar, budget amendments, monthly financial reports, contract awards and a final facilities payment. Trustees also authorized the board president to work with district legal counsel on matters related to the superintendent search.

All motions recorded in open session were approved by voice vote and carried unanimously unless noted.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar: Approved as presented. Motion to approve by Doctor Reinegar; second by Doctor Muniz. Board voice vote carried unanimously.

- Low‑attendance waiver for inclement weather (Jan. 22): Administration recommended submitting a waiver to the Texas Education Agency to exclude Jan. 22 from Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding calculations after an inclement‑weather closure; trustees approved submission. Motion by Doctor Munoz; second by Doctor Monreal; unanimous.

- 2025–26 school district calendar: Trustees adopted the calendar (option 2), selected by campus voters. Motion to approve by Doctor Pettis; second by Doctor Muniz; unanimous.

- Awards, proposals and contracts: Board approved the procurement items and vendor contracts presented in the packet; administration highlighted a federal‑funded kitchen equipment purchase of about $1.2 million (federal funds). Motion by Doctor Reitinger; seconded in open session; unanimous.

- Budget amendments: Nine budget amendments to move funds between functions for year‑end activities and student travel were approved. Motion by Doctor Pettis; second by Doctor Munoz; unanimous.

- Monthly tax collections and monthly financials: Trustees accepted the tax collection report (84.49% of levy collected as of Jan. 31) and approved the monthly financial statements, which showed a combined general‑fund fund balance of $21.2 million as of Jan. 31. Motions carried unanimously.

- Annual investment report: Trustees approved the district’s FY2024 investment report showing $27.2 million in investments and roughly $2.2 million in interest earnings. Motion by Doctor Muniz; unanimous approval.

- Bank signature update: Trustees authorized adding Ida Ambreese as interim assistant superintendent for business operations to the bank signature card and removing the former assistant superintendent. Motion by Doctor Muniz; unanimous.

- Election items: Trustees approved the order of election for the HCISD trustee election set for May 3, 2025 (seats for Place 3 and Place 7), and named Remy Garza of Cameron County as early voting clerk. Motions carried unanimously.

- Facilities payment: The board approved a final construction payment of $34,472.65 to Central Air and Heat Services, Inc. for ESSER-funded central plant upgrades at Harlingen High School. Motion by Doctor Monreal; unanimous.

- Personnel and superintendent search (post‑executive session): After reconvening from closed session trustees approved employment of teachers and other professional staff as recommended by administration, and authorized Board President Greg Powers to work with district legal counsel about the superintendent search. Motions carried unanimously.

What the votes mean

Trustees described the package as routine operational business to keep the district’s calendar, payroll and contracts on schedule and to maintain compliance with state and federal requirements. Several items (calendar adoption; budget amendments; investment and monthly financial reports) set the financial and operational framework for the coming school year and for budget planning.

Administration noted one non‑recurring but sizable procurement: a federal funds purchase of kitchen equipment for roughly $1.2 million, which will not draw from the district’s general operating budget.

Formal roll-call tallies were not taken for items recorded as voice votes; the meeting minutes show unanimous board consensus on each recorded motion in open session.

No legal or policy changes were adopted in open session; the board’s action to authorize the president to work with counsel followed executive‑session discussion and was stated as an open‑session motion and vote.