Board members of the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District got a big lecture on finance on Monday.
Texas Education Agency (TEA) conservator Fred Liner conducted a meeting with members of the board as well as a packed house full of teachers and staff members all worried for their jobs.
Concerned residents such as Felix Segura, Jr. also attended the meeting.
"We the community found out exactly how bad the situation was so were just trying to get a complete understanding as to what’s going on," Segura said.
Liner put things to the school board plainly
"When you find yourself in a hole the first thing you do is stop digging," he said.
Many were wondering how the district got several million dollars in the hole.
Liner says there were two main indicators.
One was not collecting full taxes and the other was keeping too many staff members on the payroll.
Liner said the district has 1,005 employees (394 teachers and 611 staff members) for only 5,600 students.
"Your 181 total staff over what your maximum is," he told the school board.
Some residents are concerned that holding those positions is political. Others, like Segura, blame the district leaders.
"You know because a hand full of people mismanaging the district management that its going to hurt a of good people," he said.
Yet others, like Cruz Torres, just hope to for a resolution.
“We want a fair one and I hope that is done on a lot of consideration but their no doubt that a big decision has to be made," Torres said.
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