Ysleta ISD trustees warn of possible budget shortfall as voucher debate, teacher pay worries continue

Ysleta Independent School District trustees and district leaders on Wednesday outlined a budget outlook that could force deficit spending unless the Texas Legislature increases education funding, and board members and public speakers urged action to oppose voucher proposals that speakers said would drain public-school resources.

The board’s budget presentation, led by district staff, reviewed the basic allotment (currently $6,160 per student, staff said) and projected that a $220 per‑pupil increase proposed in House Bill 2 would not be sufficient to cover rising costs. Superintendent Cruz Ochoa and Chief Financial staff told trustees that special-education and other weighted allotments matter to Ysleta because the district serves larger numbers of students who generate higher per‑pupil weights.

Why it matters: Trustees said recurring, salary-linked increases would be hard to sustain if the district must keep covering multi‑year deficits. School employees and union leaders urged the board to protect classroom staff while the district presses state leaders for funding and opposes voucher measures that could shift public dollars to private schools.

Board and staff discussion District staff framed the problem as both the size of the state’s “pie” and how the Legislature would distribute it. The board heard that some bills propose increases targeted to teacher salary schedules and teacher‑incentive programs; staff cautioned that a requirement to place a large share of any increase onto the teacher salary schedule (discussed as a 40% requirement in testimony) could leave hourly and support employees behind.

Budget director Lisonbee (presenter) told trustees that the district budgets the E‑Rate match and that, even with federal discounts, the district will need to plan for any required local share of technology or other services. Staff recommended bringing a revenue gap estimate to the board in April and holding a budget workshop in May to review options once the Legislature’s actions are clearer.

Public comment and community appeals Several public commenters urged the board to protect educators from job cuts and to oppose voucher proposals. Heather Senor, a teacher, urged trustees to “protect the people who serve our students” and to prioritize classroom staff over administrative salary growth. Jeff Senor, president of the Isleta Teachers Association, said voucher proposals endorsed by state leaders would “siphon vital resources away from our public schools” and cited recent layoffs in Socorro ISD as a cautionary example.

Rosie Perez of West Texas Alliance told the board she had testified at the Capitol against voucher proposals included in HB 3 and criticized proposals that would set voucher amounts of roughly $10,000 per student while public schools would see far smaller per‑pupil increases.

Board posture and next steps Trustees repeatedly said they were committed to avoiding layoffs and to protecting classroom staff. Board members asked staff to prepare a prioritized list of potential reductions and savings for April and May workshops so the board could act quickly if legislative revenue does not materialize. Trustees also encouraged community members to contact state legislators to press for a larger funding increase and to insist on a level playing field if vouchers move forward.

The board did not take a formal vote on districtwide budget cuts during the meeting. Trustees approved several unrelated consent items and technology contracts during the same session (see separate article on E‑Rate contracts), and scheduled follow-up budget workshops in April and May to refine revenue and expenditure estimates.