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TEA conservator: Socorro ISD showing turnaround but special‑ed data could delay exit
Summary
TEA conservator Michael Hinojosa praised the board and staff for governance improvements and better financial controls but warned that lagging special‑education data may keep conservatorship in place; he said removal by end of July is possible but not likely unless data clears.
Michael Hinojosa, the Texas Education Agency conservator assigned to Socorro ISD, delivered an executive summary outlining progress and remaining challenges under conservatorship.
Hinojosa credited the board and staff for governance changes, stronger budget monitoring and improvements in district culture and outcomes since the conservatorship began. He said the district “went from trouble to now being the model in a very short period of time,” and commended staff and the superintendent for progress.
However, Hinojosa emphasized that special‑education data lag remains a key obstacle to lifting conservatorship. “There is one opportunity. It is not highly likely, but there is an opportunity that by the end of July, it could be removed,” he said, adding that the data must be cleared for TEA to finalize an exit.
Board members thanked the conservator for candid assessments and sought assurance that expectations be clearly shared in advance. Trustees said they are proud of recent gains but expressed frustration that some exit criteria surfaced late in the process.
Hinojosa said he might return quarterly if needed, but that much of the operational work has been completed, and he urged the board to keep pushing on goals and expectations.
Next steps: district and TEA staff will continue work to resolve the special‑education data issues; the board will be briefed on developments and any change to conservatorship status if TEA clears the required data.
