Socorro ISD faces tough choices after Proposition A defeat

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Socorro Independent School District leaders said Wednesday they are moving forward after voters narrowly rejected Proposition A, which would have provided additional funding for the district’s operations.

Superintendent James Vasquez called the result a setback but said the district will continue to focus on serving students despite the financial challenges ahead.

“It’s a setback for sure, but we accept the will of the voters and keep moving forward,” Vasquez said during a news conference. We continue to do what we do best, educating kids and preparing them for the future.”

The failed measure means the district will have to make difficult financial decisions sooner than expected.

Vasquez said the district may need to take out short-term loans as early as next spring or summer to stay financially stable.

The district is projecting a loss of about 800 students next school year, which could lead to fewer staff positions. Vasquez said officials hope to address the reduction through natural attrition rather than layoffs and could again offer separation incentives to employees who retire or resign.

He said district leaders will also have to reconsider spending priorities, including technology upgrades and HVAC replacements. Without additional revenue, replacing aging student laptops or updating classroom cooling systems could be delayed.

Vasquez said he believes the measure’s failure may be partly due to lingering distrust among voters after recent years of district turmoil. Still, he pointed to signs of progress, more than 7,100 voters supported Proposition A, the highest number of “yes” votes for any bond or tax measure in district history.

“We’ve gone through a lot these past couple of years,” Vasquez said. “We need to reach out more and continue the transparency we’ve been showing. The trust is coming back, but there’s still work to be done.”

Texas Education Agency Conservator Andrew Kim, who has overseen the district since April 2024 alongside fellow conservator Michael Hinojosa, said the failed election will not affect the timeline for state oversight.

“Since we’ve been here, the district has done phenomenal work,” Kim said. “They went from a $42 million deficit to a balanced budget, resolved many graduation credit issues and strengthened board governance.”

Kim said the Texas Education Agency will determine when the conservatorship ends, likely sometime next year.

“This is a hiccup, but it’s not one of the exact criteria,” Kim said regarding the Prop A outcome. “The voters have spoken, and we have to honor that. The district just needs to do a better job communicating and understanding what happened.”

The Socorro ISD Board of Trustees is expected to vote Wednesday night on a new employee health care plan.