The Ysleta Independent School District voted 5-1 to approve the budget for the next school year, with a focus on saving teacher jobs despite a $12 million budget deficit.

Budget Challenges

Superintendent Xavier De la Torre stated that the main goal was to avoid laying off teachers, even if it means spending every available dime. The district hopes to balance the budget by the end of the school year and is counting on potential additional funding from the state.

De la Torre noted that compensation for employees and healthcare benefits have increased by $72 million since 2014, while funding from enrollment has decreased by about $100 million during the same period. He acknowledged that the district could have handled the budget differently in the past.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.