Balanced budgets and pay raises at La Joya ISD
La Joya ISD will go into the 2025-26 school year with a balanced budget and 4% raises for all employees — a feat that some might have deemed far-fetched a year ago.
La Joya ISD Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen
Last year, the district faced a $20 million-turned-$10.4 million deficit, and it was about to enter a third school year without across-the-board pay increases. The Texas Education Agency had recently taken over the district, and the new TEA-appointed superintendent and board had their work cut out for them. It took months of tough decisions — closing and consolidating schools, downsizing staff, adjusting financial practices — but the district finally achieved balanced books. The board of managers approved the $254.8 million budget for the 2025-26 school year at the June 18 meeting.
When building the budget for the upcoming school year, staff had to work with several factors that negatively impacted district funding, including a decrease in property taxes and changes in legislation. But the district-wide decline in student enrollment has had a considerable impact. Going into next year, La Joya ISD predicts a loss of 689 students, which equals a loss of about $4.2 million. Still, the district was able to build a budget with a revenue surplus of about $1.5 million.
Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen commended staff for helping bring the district into the black and thanked the board for providing the final stamp of approval.
“We’ve gotten a lot done this year as a board, as a district and as a family,” Sorensen said. “It really is a demonstration of all the work and the dedication and the pride and the joy that exists in this district every single day and in every single employee.”
The approved budget also includes the 4% employee pay raise, which will go into effect Sept. 1. In addition to salary increases, the district will reinstate stipends for certified special education teachers and increase stipends for athletics and fine arts coaches. Palmview High School Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Katy Garza thanked administration and the board for making the pay upgrades possible.
“We hope that you truly understand that your decision is more than just a financial adjustment,” Garza said at the meeting. “It’s a clear message that you value the work, the time and the heart that our coaches pour into each student every single day. This increase is a meaningful step forward — one that helps close the gap and moves us in the right direction.”
President of the La Joya American Federation of Teachers Brenda Salinas also praised the district for providing the salary increases. She called the work monumental.
“While we’re not the highest paying district in the region right now, it’s important for us to be competitive, and this budget aims to achieve that,” Salinas said. “We believe we can reclaim that title in the future.”
With the budget finalized and approved for next year, the 2024-25 school year can officially come to a close. The superintendent encouraged the LJISD community to reflect on their accomplishments from this past year.
“It’s been a long year full of amazingness in every space that we could have gone through. Tough times too, but also lots of amazingness,” Sorensen said. “And so I look forward very much to 25-26 — the launch of our strategic plan and our continued commitment to student success.”
