Laredo ISD trustees approve interim superintendent contract; board reviews budget reports, frozen federal funds and contracts

LAREDO, Texas — The Laredo ISD Board of Trustees approved a contract for interim superintendent services and spent the rest of a July 15 special-call and Business & Support Services meeting reviewing financial reports, procurement recommendations and several education-related memoranda of understanding.

The board voted to approve an interim superintendent contract for a term up to 12 months with a monthly pay rate of $9,300, described in the motion as an amount “in addition to” the district president's salary. A second was recorded; those voting in favor signified "aye" and the motion passed, with no roll-call tally recorded in the public transcript.

Why it matters: Trustees flagged potential shortfalls and one-time costs in the coming year and discussed strategies for covering personnel currently funded by federal grants. School leaders said some federal funds are frozen and the district is planning to use carryover balances and Title I funds temporarily while it waits for clarification.

Major financial items

- May disbursements: Finance presenter Diana Ayala told trustees the district's cash disbursements for May totaled $23,500,000; about $16,000,000 of that was payroll and $7,300,000 was for goods and services. Ayala gave an unaudited review of financial statements as of May 31, 2025, and said year-to-date revenues were estimated at $211,500,000.

- Tax collections and levy: Ayala said July-to-May collections were $34,400,000 (about 93.46% of a $36.8 million budgeted amount). The adjusted opening levy was presented as $35,900,000.

- Payroll and budget drivers: The finance presentation attributed a $19,600,000 increase in payroll costs to moving teacher positions from ESSER grants into the general fund and to a one-time payment issued in December. Ayala also noted a $17,600,000 transfer-out tied to the Sigaroa (Siguaroa/Sigaroa in transcript) High School project.

Frozen federal funds and carryovers

Trustees pressed staff about a recent notice that several federal grants had been frozen. When board members asked how large the potential…