SAN ANTONIO – In a significant turn of events for the Northside Independent School District (NISD), district leaders are now faced with the challenge of re-evaluating their budget and efficiency audits after local voters rejected a tax increase and bond propositions aimed at enhancing campus facilities and resources.
The three bond propositions were designed to fund essential projects, including the construction of a new aquatic center, campus renovations, the acquisition of new buses, and advancements in technology. Additionally, the proposed Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) aimed to generate funds intended for staff raises within the district.
Interim Superintendent Jessica Palomares has committed to maintaining transparency in the district’s decision-making processes as they navigate these financial hurdles. “There’s going to be some tough decisions we’re going to have to make but we are going to be transparent in the process and we’re going to involve our community,” Palomares stated, emphasizing the importance of community engagement during this challenging period.
Melina Espiritu-Azocar, the president of the Northside American Federation of Teachers, expressed disappointment over the election results but remains optimistic about the future of teacher compensation and public education funding. “Certainly disappointed that the VATRE did not pass,” Espiritu-Azocar commented. “It was $45 million it was supposed to generate to come into the district with $35 million of that being used for staff pay and that was incredibly important to us.”
With the VATRE’s rejection, the feasibility of staff raises remains uncertain. Palomares indicated that the district is exploring ways to re-prioritize its budget and strategically assess its efficiency audits to identify potential areas for adjustment. “We’re working on current plans to look at our current budget to see where we might have opportunity to re-prioritize and be very strategic in our planning,” she said.
Despite the setback, Espiritu-Azocar finds reassurance in the new elected officials, noting that voters are looking for progress in public education. “The voters were very clear that they expected that the folks they put into office were gonna do something for public education,” she remarked.
The conversation surrounding public education funding has also been influenced by Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFAs), which have raised concerns about the sustainability of public school funding. Espiritu-Azocar pointed out that significant state resources are being allocated to vouchers, stating, “We’re spending billions of dollars on vouchers and we absolutely have been adamantly against any voucher or expansion of vouchers.”
According to data from the Texas Education Freedom Account website, 7,077 students residing in the Northside ISD applied for TEFA, although it remains unclear how many of these students were previously enrolled in the district.
Palomares reassured stakeholders that no formal decisions have been made regarding budget adjustments and that any future discussions will be conducted transparently. “When those conversations come, they will be transparent and everybody will be informed,” she said.
Looking ahead, Espiritu-Azocar expressed hope for positive changes under the leadership of Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, who she believes will advocate for public education. “Gina Hinojosa was here at our union hall on the Sunday before the largest election cycle…and I think she was very clear, help is on the way,” she said. “She doubled down that she plans to fire the commissioner of education who has threatened and held takeovers over the heads of our public ISD’s so we’re hopeful.”
