Needing to have a budget in place by July 1 but not yet fully knowing what’s in store for school finances, the Midlothian ISD board of trustees Monday night moved forward with a preliminary budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

The general fund, child nutrition fund and debt service fund budgets were approved for the upcoming school year. District assistant superintendent of business and operations Dr. Rebecca Metzger told trustees that these budgets will be amended at a later date to reflect changes brought about by the recently-passed House Bill 2 in the 89th Texas Legislature. The vote was 6-1, with trustee Ed Harrison voting no.

Total expenditures in the general budget are projected to be about $132.6 million, a $3 million increase over the previous year. An increase in the homestead exemption to $140,000 before voters in November will not impact the district because of a hold-harmless provision in House Bill 4, Metzger told trustees.

Much of the budget will change once the district receives final guidance from the Texas Education Agency on aspects of HB2.

Before the final vote, the board unanimously approved a compensation plan for school employees. District human capital officer Dr. Aaron Williams said this plan includes a one-year step increase across the board, and will also be amended later with more increases in order to put the district in compliance with HB 2.

Some new stipends were added for robotics instructors and self-contained special education staff. The total cost of the initial step increases and added stipends will be about $684,000, Williams said.

The tax rates for the new school year won’t be set until August, after the district receives certified property values from the Ellis Appraisal Office in late July.

All members of the board were present.

Other items

• Recognitions were given to 1l MISD campuses for winning Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools recognition. Also recognized were Eagle Scout recipient and recent Heritage High School graduate Rowan Jones, the MHS and HHS baseball region semifinalists, MHS girls’ doubles tennis players Hannah Hobbs and Gwen Robinson as state qualifiers, and 2025 Servant Leader award recipients Anthony Stallworth, Gabriel Vargas and Shannon Hoopman.
• The MISD Facilities Planning Subcommittee gave a report on its work since its organization in May. Board president Ryan Timm and Harrison said that, after meeting to discuss needs, the subcommittee took a bus tour of the district.
• The approved consent agenda included previous meeting minutes, a staff development waiver through the TEA, cameras in special education settings for 2025-2026, budget amendments for 2024-2025, a non-resident tuition rate, a request for proposals for district-wide counseling and other programs, and a resolution for participation in the Region 5 purchasing cooperative program.
• A proposal to designate an efficiency auditor was pulled from the consent agenda at Harrison’s request and approved separately, with Harrison the only trustee voting against. Harrison noted that an efficiency audit is required before the district can call a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, which Harrison opposes.
• The board approved a resolution authorizing contingent fee legal services, and in a separate motion adopted these services with two firms: Eiland & Bonnin, PC and O’Hanlon, Denerath & Castillo, PC.