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Resident urges Weslaco ISD to prioritize teachers over administrator raises
Summary
During public comment, Israel Gonzales criticized a 4% administrative raise as discretionary and urged the board to use funds to hire more teachers and prioritize facilities at his campus. Trustees and staff responded with clarifications and commitments to review program costs and construction timelines.
Israel Gonzales, a resident and campus stakeholder, used the public-comment period to challenge recent district budget choices raised at a July 28 workshop. Gonzales said the district is facing construction-related shortfalls but questioned a discretionary 4% pay increase for administrators, arguing the district needs more classroom teachers and facility investments instead. "We just really don't need any more administrators. We just need more teachers," he told the board.
Gonzales also said he has not received requested cost details about a program at his campus and urged transparency. Trustees thanked him for the comments; Superintendent Dr. Richard Rivera and other staff clarified the district’s financial position, saying the district is not in the red but that an ADA shortfall reduced state revenue by approximately $561,000. Rivera and trustees acknowledged campus-specific facility concerns (e.g., track and field at Mary Hoke Middle School) and said construction timelines and bid rankings are being worked through under bond projects.
