Trustees hear enrollment drop, safety upgrades and community requests; county seeks hydrant tap for new wellness center

Trustees heard a detailed superintendent’s report on Sept. 15 that covered enrollment, safety projects and the status of bond-funded construction.

Superintendent Richard Rivera said district enrollment is down roughly 136 students from the same time last year, with elementary schools down about 101 and middle schools down about 63. Rivera said falling short of the district’s $14.05 ADA target reduces state revenues and estimated about $561,000 in lost state funding tied to lower ADA in the current year. He said the district is “overstaffed” relative to current counts but that no layoffs were anticipated and that staffing decisions will be managed to maintain class-size standards.

Rivera reviewed safety and capital work funded by federal grants and bond proceeds: vestibules at campuses, window-shatter film, magnetic access control, district fencing, additional safety officers and playground and turf projects. He noted some projects are complete (turf at Panther/Wildcat field) and others are in progress (Mary Hogue middle-school track delayed by soil issues; anticipated completion in 2026). Rivera emphasized large projects require bond funding rather than M&O.

Public comment included two community speakers. David Fuentes, a county representative, described a planned 30,000-square-foot Precinct 1 wellness center near North Bridal Elementary that will include gyms, classrooms, batting cages and a concession area, and said the county will request permission to tap a district fire-hydrant water line on district property to complete a loop for the building’s fire-suppression system; Fuentes said the fire marshal confirmed the line serves only hydrants and not interior school plumbing. The board did not take immediate action and Fuentes said a formal request would follow.

Israel Gonzalez, who identified himself as a teacher, criticized a 4% raise for administrators as discretionary and argued the district should prioritize hiring classroom teachers and completing campus amenities such as a track at Mary Hope Middle School. Trustees and the superintendent responded that some staffing and funding issues are driven by enrollment and ADA and noted processes for reviewing waivers and support for early-childhood classrooms.

Trustees also approved Lone Star governance progress measures and consent items, discussed future committee meetings (finance committee), and moved several routine construction and contract items to final approval. The board entered executive session under Texas Government Code provisions for personnel and litigation and returned to open session to approve personnel matters before adjourning at 7:51 p.m.

Next steps: Hidalgo County indicated it will submit a formal request for the hydrant tap; district staff will post budget and enrollment materials on the transparency site and continue to report on bond projects and ADA monitoring.