[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6620399,"mediaKeyId","2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866","parentId",2810707,"title","Waco ISD finance update: enrollment up slightly; state revenue and property-value appeals cloud next year’s picture","audioSeconds",1163,"startMs",1672000,"endMs",2835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866&start=1672&end=2835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866/thumbnail_1672000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620399/Texas/Waco-ISD-finance-update-enrollment-up-slightly-state-revenue-and-property-value-appeals-cloud-next-years-picture","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620399-7915beef893e235b7442185c1e6c5c82/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985227&Signature=XVPe9F1OtfTlTIzpQM~nUOF35mYySPMd~JUOwH01OFnMUP4WQO0TpIPjxj19iRb0IrmLjrOBg30rOCb0RZtHRdjoB18y9KJCOUyjqZ71m6KRwrD0qS4KXyn~J1GC50gwSuUTVk~9aFPfS~4fcwzl3gRcXiFV~04PqZGvwC8Cprgs~K5SWh9~EAU7iUP5G3s1N8ZsU~iQx1ARnkJyBMAt-AC1-zejdWTPL~QyRm42B4iDIGaHMy4y~xNPs-Y1kpRKKdYmOy4MP9Jq3dGkBxxX808jvoW7ZtCaPJzNe~s9bcSn5lAWYA5AZvKBUHE9iWcVZnxcWnUW-l6lTlwrzWh0OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waco ISD","date","2025-03-28T15:19:26.707Z","article","Waco ISD finance staff told trustees the district’s revised enrollment is 13,366—about 72 students above the revised budget—and provided a status report on revenues, expenditures and legislative proposals that could affect the district’s 2025–26 budget.

Assistant Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer Ms. Davis (presenting the report) said the district’s January projections show a revised budget gap in the range of $12.9 million under current assumptions, though she said the district currently expects to “understand” (realize) closer to $7.3 million in deficit once preliminary revenue and expenditure variances settle. She emphasized projections were early and subject to change when final values are released in July.

Davis told the board the Texas Comptroller issued a March 14 notice that a portion of self‑reported property-value data was incorrect statewide—specifically values affected by freeze compression on over‑65 homestead properties—and that the comptroller opened a special appeal process. The district’s delinquent-tax attorney filed an appeal immediately; Davis said the district was told it would “pick up some money” but the extent was not yet known.

On state funding, Davis said preliminary estimates under current law show a projected decline of about $2.2 million in Foundation School Program revenues for 2025–26 tied to expected attendance or enrollment changes. She also summarized pending bills the administration is watching: House Bill 2 (which would increase the basic allotment and include hold-harmless and teacher-incentive changes), Senate proposals on homestead exemptions and safety allotments, and House Bill 19 (a proposal to limit local government debt service) that the administration said could constrain local borrowing.

Davis reported other revenue and expenditure notes: special‑education funding increases are expected and the district may need to allocate roughly $1.3 million toward special‑education staffing next year to meet maintenance-of-effort requirements; utility projections are largely flat because of prior contracts and expected lower fuel prices; the health insurance fund was roughly breaking even after a January contribution increase; and the district already budgeted reduced SHARS (federal Medicaid) revenue after a prior audit adjustment.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about waivers for missed days, timing of comptroller corrections, and whether the district will receive hold-harmless protections if the legislature changes yield calculations. Davis said the district will not have final local property values until July and that many revenue variables depend on legislative action this spring.

No formal action was required; the presentation served as information ahead of future budget hearings and board discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waco ISD School Board Meeting from March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance staff reported a modest enrollment increase of about 72 students for the current year, a projected revised fund-balance deficit and uncertainty tied to the Texas Comptroller’s property-value correction and pending school finance bills; the district filed an appeal with the comptroller after a statewide reporting error was announced.","taxTitle","WACO ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14342,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620405,"Board approves construction change directive to replace ductwork at South Waco Elementary",771,4587000,5358000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866&start=4587&end=5358","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866/thumbnail_4587000.jpg","/articles/6620405/Texas/Board-approves-construction-change-directive-to-replace-ductwork-at-South-Waco-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620405-2397ec43ebff268c32b6ee790f2a272e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985227&Signature=E1XY5nv1f2LqLv7otDAQvtUAOynKDSqW-JIYqxHH9YEWeXTJJf-qbOdAucrGADrH0EgTJ5QIbjDg-nooQ7fiv4RSQI5oC3S4v115S5i8QDroCFbYKYOFcpYXuBBZTbE4ChpXPYv3viKTX0sgf6enxdAN8enA2kdHfbz9BrihIvaIG2LY8xPcPXp6ZCASUTrT2mFJ27eZQka~8E4gvkG1Wh1bomx21krUwkuD8e~jc4UlsE-7e3~TSGAsCQeUA2tx~~QIXlQGNBMb3RsPybX7s0IliXAteyOJXPMTQSBidyDfxswTv7P7bATSISO6tXY34qtNK9v6QbND4D9J-o81rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco Independent School Board approved a construction change directive to replace supply ductwork and clean return ducts at South Waco Elementary as part of an ongoing HVAC upgrade.

Mrs. Barrera, presenting the contract amendment, said the district originally expected to replace only HVAC units but that a mid-project quality-assurance walkthrough identified ductwork limitations that would reduce comfort and system efficiency. She told trustees the RPC (request for pricing change) submitted by the contractor included overtime to keep the schedule, and that the district had set a top limit on overtime costs though final hourly quantities were still being calculated.

John Kazanis, representing the contractor and project team, said the approved work also includes cleaning the return ductwork at the opposite end of the system. Barrera explained the planned four supply grills will disperse air more evenly and reduce noise compared with the existing larger single ducts; she described the change as improving circulation and classroom comfort and said the upgrade would make the building “feel like a new building” in terms of HVAC performance.

Trustees discussed whether the existing ductwork could be left in place; presenters said the system would function but the new duct design will provide better ventilation, quieter operation and longer-term performance consistent with contemporary indoor-air-quality expectations. The administration said the existing contingency in the construction contract will pay for the work and that Mazzonek (contractor) has generally stayed on schedule and in budget on the overall project.

The motion to approve the construction change directive for HVAC ductwork at South Waco Elementary (agenda item 10) was moved by Mr. Grant and seconded by Mr. Vidania; trustees voted aye and the motion passed unanimously. The directive authorizes the contractor to proceed with the revised scope, including return-duct cleaning and a capped overtime allowance; the administration will provide final cost details as the contractor reports hours and confirms schedule impacts.

Board members and administration framed the decision as timely—doing the ductwork while the site is under construction reduces the need to return later and reduces disruption to students and staff.","Trustees unanimously approved a construction change directive to add upgraded supply and cleaned return ductwork at South Waco Elementary, citing improved air circulation, quieter operation and long-term system performance; the contract amendment includes overtime and a defined cap but exact overtime hours were not finalized at the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620410,"Waco ISD board approves new attendance boundaries, closing Alta Vista and shifting zones",1696,2858000,4554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866&start=2858&end=4554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810707-68b4dc4f38cbc83d08a6a8cdac251866/thumbnail_2858000.jpg","/articles/6620410/Texas/Waco-ISD-board-approves-new-attendance-boundaries-closing-Alta-Vista-and-shifting-zones","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620410-9a8feafb6b73cc67de9c7adfb317278d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985227&Signature=SV8sFJPWh6HaHPYFbMrYgDoEN9GiiG8HcIq43vNH7WBnog37tTyP1Dpd0RH8JX~6gH7qD1H~DHEz~tzMsrX96jMSdNlxdYB6~a4bM-egaer~kW1pQrlC593xrRfTWUxFsfW~LcDNpz2WdzidaSFc6ZVa5N6JR7uUaddeZjIJHSsPHXqdXTDvdYEibOKhnKY5Cyrt9kY1KGyFt4CIUHzL~PheJrz8ompyKtjd8WVnM9GQb1QKY5yCHyotPZmk7vAmMvqXcHy2WwpfS3DECBMvT416f7Ra~MnlbELpPN1o1qpodqk~mk6qXuSXgW5sqxPyGZYSpqwSgyvBMnO69zsAcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco Independent School Board voted unanimously to approve new attendance boundaries that close Alta Vista Elementary and reassign most of its students to Kendrick and South Waco elementary zones, effective for the 2025–26 school year.

The district presented maps developed by a 60-member attendance-boundary committee that met over five months and collected community feedback through three public hearings and an online “thought exchange” with more than 1,000 participants. Superintendent Dr. Spicer and committee members said the maps were designed to respect natural neighborhood boundaries, preserve feeder patterns through middle and high school, and improve program equity across campuses.

The vote followed a presentation by Dr. Spicer, parent and committee member Clint Harp, and special-education teacher Randy Fowler, who summarized committee priorities and community input. Dr. Spicer told trustees, “The hope would be with the implementation of these new maps that we would put these in place for the 2025–26 school year.”

The committee emphasized keeping cohorts together where possible (for example, recommending that West Avenue Elementary students stay together rather than be split) and balancing capacity at middle-school campuses. The recommended changes move West Avenue Elementary to the Cesar Chavez feeder pattern and expand Cesar Chavez’s boundary along specific streets to maintain a single feeder for West Avenue through University High School. The maps also show detailed street-level boundary changes east and south of I‑35 and along Loop 340 and Flat Creek.

Committee members said they considered program placement — including whether to expand advanced-academics offerings such as ATLAS — transportation impacts and facilities constraints. The administration said program changes would be studied during the 2025–26 year and returned to the board for decisions; in the interim, students currently enrolled in a school would be considered for grandfathering so that mid-year transitions and sibling placement could be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Trustees asked about overcrowding at Cesar Chavez Middle School; administration said it would seek facility adjustments and operational changes (for example, flow and circulation patterns) and would review a facilities study by O'Connor Robertson to identify physical changes or reconfigurations to gain capacity. Transportation staff will develop updated bus routes tied to the new zones.

The motion to approve the committee and administration recommendation was moved by Mr. Grant and seconded by Mr. Guillory; trustees voted aye and the motion passed unanimously. The administration will return with an implementation plan, proposed grandfathering rules and transfer-policy revisions ahead of the 2025–26 transfer window.

Community members, parents and principals who served on the committee welcomed the unanimous vote but stressed that the board and administration must follow through with clear communication, transportation planning and program-equity work.

The board’s action completes the boundary recommendation phase; next steps are drafting grandfathering and transfer procedures and finalizing bus and program plans for the coming year.","After five months of committee work and public input, the Waco Independent School Board unanimously approved new elementary, middle and high school attendance zones that close Alta Vista and reassign its students primarily to Kendrick and South Waco; implementation planning and grandfathering rules will follow.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waco ISD finance update: enrollment up slightly; state revenue and property-value appeals cloud next year’s picture

Board approves construction change directive to replace ductwork at South Waco Elementary

Waco ISD board approves new attendance boundaries, closing Alta Vista and shifting zones