La Joya ISD proposes a 3% raise for all employees
The La Joya ISD administration proposed a balanced budget and a possible 3% midpoint raise for all employees, pending board approval next week.
This is the second year the district presented a balanced budget to the board of managers since the Texas Education Agency appointed Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen in February 2024.
Going into the 2024-25 school year, La Joya ISD faced a $10.4 million deficit. But after the administration downsized, closed schools and adjusted financial practices, the district began the 2025-26 school year with a balanced budget.
To achieve a balanced budget for the 2026-27 school year, the district had to do more of the same.
In January, La Joya ISD decided to close five low-performing schools this coming school year, freeing up $27.2 million. But Sorensen clarified that freeing up the $27.2 million merely kept the district out of another deficit because of a $12.1 million reduction in district revenue and rising operational costs. Additionally, $6 million is going toward absorbing the HeadStart program after Hidalgo County informed the district that it would not renew its contract for next year.
“The hard decisions were in anticipation of this moment,” the superintendent said. “Had we not made difficult decisions, we would be standing before the board today really presenting a deficit budget, which I know is not acceptable. We are here to make sure that our finances are in order and that we are presenting financial sustainability, transparency and having fiscal responsibility, not only as a superintendent but as a board.”
With the proposed balanced budget, the district was able to carve out a 3% midpoint raise for all employees. Additionally, it would increase starting pay for teachers, librarians and nurses by $1,100, raising it to $58,300. The proposed raise would affect 1,412 teachers, 31 librarians, 29 nurses and 1,623 other employees.
The estimated budget impact would be $5.3 million.
“All the sacrifice, all the stretching of the funding, all this hard work on being sure that we were efficient, this is where we wanted to put the funds — being sure that all our employees receive a significant increase this year too,” said Mirgitt Crespo, the chief of business, finance & administrative services.
If the board of managers approves the raise, this would mean a 7% salary increase over the last two years.
Board President Julian Alvarez III expressed excitement for the budget proposal and the compensation package.
“This is music to my ears that we have a balanced budget,” the board president said. “We know that there are challenges not only in our district but around the state…This is amazing and this is something we should be very proud of.”
Sorensen referred to the budgeting process as “a labor of love,” noting that administration worked in partnership with the local union — La Joya American Federation of Teachers — to achieve the proposed compensation package.
Crespo said her team came up with alternate compensation package options, but she is confident in the 3% raise she presented to the board.
“With the adjustments that we’re doing and the efficiencies that we’re doing, we can afford this,” she said proudly.
The La Joya ISD Board of Managers will vote on the 2026-27 budget and the compensation package at the June 17 school board meeting. Per state law, all districts must approve the budget by June 30.
