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TEA conservator says SOCORRO ISD is largely meeting exit criteria but budget, customer service remain
Summary
A Texas Education Agency conservator told reporters SOCORRO ISD has met most of the four exit criteria for TEA oversight but still needs a formally adopted balanced budget in June and completion of a customer-service initiative before the conservatorship can end.
A Texas Education Agency conservator said SOCORRO ISD has satisfied most of the requirements to end TEA conservatorship but that two items — a formally adopted balanced budget and a customer-service initiative — remain to be completed.
Dr. Noasad, who told the board earlier this week about four exit criteria for the conservatorship, said he expects to be in El Paso for roughly two more months while the district finishes those last items. “If things go according to plan, I will probably only be in El Paso for, uh, two more months,” he said.
Why it matters: Ending conservatorship would return full operational control to district leadership. The conservator said the first criterion — governance — is effectively complete after the district hired Mr. Vasquez as superintendent, improved board behavior through governance training and added three new board members. The conservator credited the board and staff with being “very coachable.”
On the remaining items, Dr. Noasad said the district must adopt a balanced budget by June and must demonstrate the customer-service project’s effectiveness. “We will not be satisfied unless a balanced budget is adopted by June,” he said, and he flagged the May board meeting as a milestone when the customer-service rollout will be presented.
Dr. Noasad praised the finance team, singling out Mr. Solis for a conservative approach to budget development that, he said, reduces the chance of surprises from the state. He also noted the district had cut roughly $40 million from its budget while reporting improved student achievement, with mostly A and B campus ratings and a smaller number of C campuses remaining.
Asked how lower-performing campuses can improve, he pointed to strong Tier 1 classroom instruction and targeted support for the students furthest behind. On sustainability, he emphasized leadership mindset, saying knowledge, skills and an attitude of problem-solving will help maintain gains after TEA oversight ends.
Dr. Noasad said TEA could return on a contracted basis if the district later needs additional help, but he expressed confidence the district has put systems in place that will allow a safe exit from conservatorship. The session ended with the conservator thanking the board, administration and community and organizers noting the recording would be shared when processed.
The conservator’s remarks came during a brief press availability; reporters asked questions from the chat and attendees by unmute. Several specific milestones the conservator cited — the May board presentation on customer service and a June budget adoption — will determine whether the conservatorship can formally end.
