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Superintendent reports sliding enrollment, stronger attendance (ADA) and fund-balance plans
Summary
Superintendent Richard Rivera told the board the district's enrollment is down compared with last year, attendance-driven funding held above budget due to higher ADA and the district has identified facility and equipment projects it may fund from reserves while preparing a cautious 2025'26 budget amid voucher and virtual-school risks.
WESLACO, Texas — Superintendent Richard Rivera gave a wide-ranging report on enrollment, average daily attendance (ADA), fund balance and planned projects, telling trustees the district is watching emerging policy changes that could affect next year's enrollment.
Rivera said district enrollment was down "compared to last year, we're at a minus 107. So this concerns me," and noted the legislature and proposals such as vouchers and statewide virtual enrollment could change the district's revenue picture. He said the district is studying transfers and potential land purchases to address capacity at high-enrollment campuses.
On ADA and funding, Rivera said the district's SESI program helped recover students and attendance and that "we'd received almost $4,200,000 in additional monies for the school district" for the first semester. He said the district monitors ADA daily and that ADA performance partially offset enrollment declines.
Rivera reviewed fund-balance planning and one-time projects under consideration; he told trustees the district maintains a three-month reserve "that we don't touch" and cited a three-month reserve figure discussed in the presentation. He described a list of proposed non-bond projects the district could fund from reserves including HVAC work, athletic improvements, playgrounds, library and furniture purchases and district vehicles; he said the projects total in the millions but did not tie final dollar commitments to the board agenda that night.
Trustees raised operational questions. Several asked about construction timing for new or renovated athletic turf and stadium work; staff said some athletic projects were delayed by underground utilities and electrical relocations. On safety, Rivera noted declines in fights at several campuses compared with last fall.
Rivera also outlined instructional supports including SAT and ACT boot camps, after-school tutorials, and paid test registration for students; he said the district aims to raise college-readiness measures as students progress to high school.
Ending: Rivera told trustees district leaders will be cautious in preparing the 2025'26 budget, citing potential voucher and virtual-school impacts and the need to avoid overbudgeting until enrollment is clear in September.
