Agenda and minutes
Regular meeting, 29 July 2026
Wednesday 29 July 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 7:51 p.m.
A full regular meeting: a consent agenda split so one report could be voted separately, ten approvals, and a budget amendment the board declined to decide and tabled instead.
- Where
- Manuel Guerra Building, Roma ISD Administration, 608 North Garcia Street, Roma, Texas 78584
- Presiding
- Board President Mary Lou G. Cruz presiding
- Quorum
- Six trustees present, one absent. President Cruz determined that a quorum was present, that the meeting had been duly called, and that notice of the agenda had been legally posted under Chapter 551.
- Recorded votes
- 14
- Signed
- Mary Lou G. Cruz, President · Karina Mascorro, Secretary
Where this came from
This is the district's own record, not a reconstruction. The agenda was read as text from the district's BoardBook posting; the minutes are published only as a scan of paper with no text in it, so they were recovered by character recognition and then read against the image line by line. Both of the district's own documents are linked at the foot of this page.
Notice
Posted Thursday 23 July 2026 at 4:30 p.m. — 145 hours and 30 minutes before the meeting. Texas Government Code § 551.043 requires at least 72 hours.
Where it was posted
- The district's BoardBook page, where the notice, the agenda and later the minutes were posted.
- The notice itself carries the certification, signed by the board president and the superintendent, that it was posted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
How the evening ran
- 6:00 p.m. — called to order
- 7:51 p.m. — adjourned
Who was there
| Trustee | Attendance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Lou G. Cruz | Present | — |
| Yadira A. Barrera | Present | Led the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| Karina Mascorro | Absent | — |
| Jaime Escobar | Present | — |
| Iv Garza, Jr. | Present | — |
| Jesus Rios, Jr. | Present | — |
| Abel Villarreal, Jr. | Present | Gave the invocation. |
The agenda, item by item
1 Roll call
Six trustees present; Trustee Karina Mascorro absent. President Mary Lou G. Cruz determined that a quorum was present, that the meeting had been duly called, and that notice of the agenda had been legally posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551.
Transcribed from the district's own minutes, which are published only as a scan of paper with no text in it. The scan is linked at the foot of this page; this text was read against it.
2 Invocation
Mr. Abel Villarreal, Jr.
3 Pledge of Allegiance
Mrs. Yadira A. Barrera.
4 Public comment
None.
5 Consent agenda
- Department
- Business & Finance
In plain language
Nine reports in one vote — except that the board took one of them out and voted it separately, which is exactly what a consent agenda is supposed to allow.
A) Approval of minutes of previous meetings. B) Approval of bills. C) Investment report. D) Financial update report. E) Electricity report. F) Transportation report. G) Tax collection report. H) Fixed assets report. I) Student enrolment report — Mr. Manuel Garcia went over the registration.
Main motion · Carried
To approve all consent agenda items, with the exception of agenda item D, as recommended.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Iv Garza, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:12
Vote on the consent agenda, less item D Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. Main motion · Carried
To approve agenda item D, the financial update report, following the presentation on projects.
Moved by Jaime Escobar · seconded by Iv Garza, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:21
Vote on item D, taken separately Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 6 Delinquent tax collection report, 1 September 2025 to 30 June 2026
Presentation by Mr. Jaime Gonzalez.
The published agenda prints this period as “September 01, 2025–June 30, 2025”. The minutes give 30 June 2026. The agenda has a typographical error, and it is reproduced here because a record that silently corrects its source is not a record.
7 Resolution approving a private bid for struck-off properties under TS-19-18 and TS-14-07
In plain language
“Struck-off” property is land that went to a tax sale and nobody bought, so the taxing entities hold it jointly. Selling it by private bid needs each entity's consent, and this is the district giving its consent on two of them.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the resolution for the private bid submitted for struck-off properties under TS-19-18 and TS-14-07.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Yadira A. Barrera
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:33
Vote on the struck-off property resolution Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 8 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct
In plain language
Education Code § 37.001 requires the board to adopt a student code of conduct every year, with the advice of its district-level committee, and to post it.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Jesus Rios, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:39
Vote on the Student Code of Conduct Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 9 2026-2027 appraisal calendar and T-TESS and T-PESS appraisers
In plain language
T-TESS is the state's teacher appraisal system and T-PESS the principal one. The board names the calendar and the certified appraisers each year.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the 2026-2027 appraisal calendar and the T-TESS and T-PESS appraisers.
Moved by Iv Garza, Jr. · seconded by Jaime Escobar
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:46
Vote on the appraisal calendar and appraisers Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 10 2026 cybersecurity training certification to the Texas Department of Information Resources
In plain language
Government Code § 2054.5191 requires each local government, school districts included, to certify to the state each year that its employees and officials completed a certified cybersecurity training course.
Main motion · Carried
To authorise the submission of the 2026 cybersecurity training certification to the Texas Department of Information Resources, as presented.
Moved by Jesus Rios, Jr. · seconded by Yadira A. Barrera
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:52
Vote on the cybersecurity training certification Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 11 Renewal of the Time Clock Plus professional annual licence and hardware support
In plain language
One of the rented systems. Time and attendance for district employees, licensed by the year, with its own hardware and its own login.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the renewal of the Time Clock Plus professional annual licence and hardware support.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Iv Garza, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 18:58
Vote on the Time Clock Plus renewal Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 12 Renewal of the district's auto, property, liability and workers' compensation insurance for 2026-2027
Main motion · Carried
To approve the renewal of the district's auto, property, liability and workers' compensation insurance for the 2026-2027 school year.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Yadira A. Barrera
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:05
Vote on the insurance renewal Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 13 Resolution self-certifying a $49,999 micro-purchase threshold for federal funds
- Amount
- $49,999
In plain language
Federal procurement rules (2 CFR § 200.320) let a district set its own micro-purchase threshold above the federal floor if it self-certifies, annually, that it can justify it. Below the threshold, a purchase does not need competitive quotes.
Main motion · Carried
To approve a resolution self-certifying a $49,999 micro-purchase threshold for the use of federal funds.
Moved by Yadira A. Barrera · seconded by Iv Garza, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:12
Vote on the micro-purchase threshold resolution Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 14 Award of RFP #26-117 for group health insurance
In plain language
A request for proposals, awarded subject to final negotiation — the board authorised the award, the negotiation and the signature all in one motion, on receipt of a best and final offer.
Discussion followed the presentation before the motion was made.
Main motion · Carried
To award RFP #26-117 for group health insurance, authorise final negotiations, and approve contract execution upon receipt of the best and final offer.
Moved by Abel Villarreal, Jr. · seconded by Jesus Rios, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:24
Vote on the group health insurance award Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 15 Budget amendment #1
In plain language
The one item the board did not decide. After discussion, a trustee moved to table it — which sets it aside without deciding it either way, and is itself a decision the board took by a recorded vote.
Discussion followed the presentation. Vice-President Barrera moved to table the item.
Motion · Carried
To table the item.
Moved by Yadira A. Barrera · seconded by Abel Villarreal, Jr.
Motion to table · Roll call at 19:33
Vote to table budget amendment #1 Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. The amendment was not adopted and was not rejected; it was set aside. 16 Public meeting date on the budget and proposed tax rate for 2026-2027
In plain language
Setting the date of the hearing at which the public may speak on the budget and the tax rate before either is adopted — Education Code § 44.004.
Mr. Alaniz recommended Wednesday 26 August 2026 for the public meeting on the budget and proposed tax rate for 2026-2027.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the recommendation as presented by Mr. Alaniz — Wednesday 26 August 2026.
Moved by Iv Garza, Jr. · seconded by Yadira A. Barrera
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:40
Vote on the public meeting date Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 17 Superintendent's report — Foreign-Trade Zone #95 expansion in Starr County
In plain language
A foreign-trade zone lets goods sit near the border without customs duty until they enter the country properly. Expanding one changes what land is worth, which is why a school district — which is funded by what land is worth — is asked to concur.
An update on the administrative letter of concurrence supporting the proposed countywide expansion of Foreign-Trade Zone #95 within Starr County. Presentation only — no motion and no vote, and the roll is recorded all the same.
18 Employment and resignation of professionals and paraprofessionals
Presented by Superintendent Mr. Carlos M. Gonzalez, Jr.
Main motion · Carried
To approve the employment and resignation of professionals and paraprofessionals as presented by Mr. Carlos Gonzalez.
Moved by Jaime Escobar · seconded by Jesus Rios, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:47
Vote on employment and resignations Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0. 19 Adjournment
There being no further business. The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Main motion · Carried
To adjourn the meeting.
Moved by Iv Garza, Jr. · seconded by Abel Villarreal, Jr.
Unanimous · Roll call at 19:51
Vote to adjourn Trustee Office Vote Mary Lou G. Cruz President Yes Yadira A. Barrera Vice-President Yes Karina Mascorro Secretary Absent Jaime Escobar Trustee Yes Iv Garza, Jr. Trustee Yes Jesus Rios, Jr. Trustee Yes Abel Villarreal, Jr. Place 2 Yes Result All seats Motion carried 6–0.
Check this against the district's own record
Nothing here should be taken on trust. These two links open the district's own documents for this meeting on BoardBook. The agenda is text. The minutes are a scan — open them and try to select a word.
- The district's agenda for this meeting (BoardBook, opens in a new site)
- The district's minutes for this meeting (BoardBook, a scan of paper)
The other meetings published in full
- Regular meeting · 25 June 2026A seat filled, an oath taken, and a conflict declared
- Special called meeting · 8 May 2026The night the board's leadership changed
How each trustee voted
Texas law requires the minutes to indicate each vote. It does not require the district to record how each individual trustee voted. Roma ISD records the roll call on every motion anyway — that is the district's own choice, and it is a stronger commitment than the statute asks for.