Seguin Independent School District leaders presented a package of personnel requests and construction updates at the board’s December meeting as the district balances staffing needs against an existing budget deficit.

The district’s human-resources and academic staff described multiple staffing needs: additional classroom teachers at identified campuses where class ratios exceed state recommendations, two full-time mental-health counselors for schools, and an executive director position for curriculum and instruction. The business office followed with a budget presentation showing the estimated cost to add the requested positions: roughly $354,000 in additional recurring expense, which the district said would increase the previously adopted budget deficit.

“Revenue is not increasing; it is just on the expense side,” a business office presenter said while displaying a proposed budget amendment. The presenter said estimates used typical midpoints for salaries and included taxes and benefits and that final costs would depend on exact hire dates and salaries. The presentation noted that the district’s failed November property measure (Prop A) means the district must consider larger class sizes, program reductions or other locally controlled options to close the gap.

Board members asked detailed questions about the positions requested. A personnel presenter walked trustees through the district’s recruiting and hiring processes, including the 10-day job posting requirement and the use of third-party staffing contractors when internal applicants are not available. Special-education vacancies, speech and occupational-therapy positions and bilingual-certified teachers were flagged as statewide supply challenges.

Trustees took several formal steps during the meeting. A trustee moved to bring item 8c — a presentation and consideration of a budget amendment and added staff positions — to the front of the agenda for discussion; the motion passed. The business office then presented the budget amendment document and additional detail about position coverage and estimated costs. The board debated the trade-offs between filling critical positions now and preserving fund balance while planning for future tax or program changes.

On construction and capital projects, the district provided progress reports on multiple bond-funded projects. Transportation and an agricultural-science facility were both under active construction; the transportation facility had started site work and an agricultural-science project received multiple competitive proposals. The board voted to approve the district’s recommended general contractor for the agriscience facility (Davis Company) following an RFCSP process and interviews. The motion to award the contract passed with trustees voting in favor.

Other project updates included Barnes Middle School renovations (library and fine-arts additions), McQueeney campus site work and ongoing security enhancements such as gate operators, power upgrades and door-hardware installations. District staff said library furniture installations and some classroom furniture deliveries are scheduled for the holiday period and that the district will continue to coordinate schedules to minimize classroom disruption.

A separate, district-managed process to select vendors for elementary-school furniture was presented. The board was given a summary of the design-driven stakeholder process the district used: five stakeholder meetings, student surveys and classroom mock-ups that produced five guiding principles (comfort, flexibility, reconfigurability, collaboration and smart use of space). The district reported it had completed interviews with top furniture vendors and recommended a vendor for board consideration; the board asked for pricing and an options presentation before final action on sign or naming changes to some athletic facilities.

Ending: Trustees pressed staff on trade-offs between hiring to meet immediate student needs and longer-term budget stewardship. The board approved the agriscience general contractor and requested additional cost breakdowns and timeline details before taking final action on personnel budget amendments and furniture vendor contracts.