PSJA board extends superintendent’s contract, approves school calendar, Boys & Girls Club agreement and audit

The Pharr‑San Juan‑Alamo Independent School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 27 voted to extend Superintendent Doctor Elias’s contract by one year and approved a 3% pay increase, alongside a slate of routine and financial items including the district’s 2025–26 academic calendar, an external audit and a renewed investment advisory agreement.

The board approved the contract extension and raise after public comment in support of the superintendent from several local teachers’ association representatives and union officers. Vicky Ibarra, speaking for the PSJA Texas Classroom Teachers Association, said, “I stand before you today to express my unwavering support for superintendent Doctor Elias, whose visionary leadership has brought about transformation changes in our district.”

Board members discussed financial oversight and audit findings before voting. Jonathan Hall, partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram, presented the independent audit report and delivered an unmodified opinion on the district’s financial statements; Hall told the board the audit “present[s] fairly in all material respects” the district’s financial position for the year ended Aug. 31, 2024. The audit did include a single significant deficiency related to budget monitoring: several functions exceeded budgeted appropriations during the year, and auditors recommended officials amend budgets when higher expenditures are anticipated. The board approved the audit and directed administration to provide a corrective action plan.

Other action items approved: - Academic calendar: Trustees approved the district’s recommended 2025–26 calendar (Calendar A), which district staff said had been chosen by employee vote (calendar A received 934 staff votes). The calendar keeps 180 student days and 187 teacher workdays, with a staff development day in October replacing a previous non‑school day. - Boys & Girls Club agreement: The board approved a contract with the Boys and Girls Club to provide after‑school and out‑of‑school programs, meals and academic support at multiple PSJA campuses. Alfredo Mata, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club serving Pharr‑San Juan‑Alamo, described the program: “First of all, we feed them. The USDA approved meal just like they do at school for lunch, we serve them supper,” and outlined sites in Pharr, San Juan and Alamo. - Investment management: Trustees renewed the district’s investment advisory agreement with the district’s adviser (fee noted in the meeting packet at $35,000 per year) and approved an updated list of authorized broker‑dealers required by the Public Funds Investment Act. The district also received a quarterly investment report covering the quarter ended Aug. 31, 2024. - Fund balance resolution: The board adopted a standard resolution to commit and delegate authority over certain fund‑balance assignments for purposes such as E‑rate or construction commitments, while reaffirming that fund‑balance appropriations or transfers still require board approval. - Employee benefits and emergency pay: The board approved an award for employee group‑health agent services for 2025–26 and adopted a resolution to compensate employees for an emergency weather closure day. - Human resources and organization changes: Trustees approved the appointment of Alicia Flores (assistant principal) based on committee recommendation, and approved reclassifying the internal auditor position to a district comptroller role after legal and administrative review.

The meeting included multiple public speakers who praised district leadership and listed recent accomplishments, including grant awards, construction projects and pay increases presented during public comment. Michael Sweet, representing a local education association, told the board the district had secured grant awards and entitlements totaling millions of dollars in recent years.

The board recorded several procedural clarifications and requests for follow up: finance staff were asked to supply the corrective action plan responding to the audit finding on budget monitoring; the administration agreed to provide follow‑up detail on tax receivable calculations the auditor flagged as an input error; and staff confirmed they will continue monthly coordination with the district’s investment adviser on positioning cash versus term investments in light of Federal Reserve rate moves.

Votes at a glance (actions approved in the Jan. 27 meeting): - Consent agenda (various procurement and routine items): approved; 1 abstention recorded on item described as “trophy company” by Trustee Anna (abstainer named in the meeting). - 2025–26 academic calendar (Calendar A): approved. - Contract with Boys & Girls Club (after‑school services): approved. - Quarterly investment report (informational): presented. - Renewal of investment advisory agreement; broker‑dealer list: approved. - Resolution to commit fund balance and delegate authority for assignment: approved. - External audit report (fiscal year 2023‑24): accepted; corrective action plan requested. - Awarding employee group health agent services: approved. - Resolution to compensate employees for emergency closure (weather day): approved. - Employment appointment — assistant principal Alicia Flores: approved (motion recorded as moved by Trustee Gutierrez, seconded by Trustee Bucastio). - Reclassification of internal auditor role to district comptroller: approved. - Superintendent contract extension — one year extension and 3% pay increase: approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The contract extension and raise for Superintendent Doctor Elias and the board’s acceptance of the independent audit close the district’s fiscal year reporting cycle while also changing organizational roles and approving recurring operational commitments (calendar, after‑school services, benefits). The audit’s finding on budget monitoring prompted the board to ask administration to tighten pre‑amendment controls and bring an action plan back to trustees.

What’s next: Administration will return with the auditors’ corrective action plan, follow‑up details on the taxes receivable adjustment noted in the audit, and continued quarterly investment updates. The board also indicated it will discuss governance and evaluation instruments at a future workshop to guide superintendent evaluation and other oversight activities.

Ending: Trustees adjourned after completing the agenda; the board president said additional governance discussion and an evaluation instrument will be scheduled so trustees can complete a formal evaluation later in the spring.