McAllen ISD, Board of Trustees, Lucia Regalado, Robert Carreon, Erica de la Garza-Lopez, Roberto Haddad, Sofia Peña, Aaron Rivera, iReady, McCown Flight Academy, aviation training, CV Local, facilities construction, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, Veronica Guerra, Celestina Amizqueta, budget amendment, Quinta Mazatlan, CTE, student code of conduct
Arnoldo Mata
McAllen TX - The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees held its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 11, 2026, approving an expansion of the district’s aviation training program, advancing revisions to the facilities construction policy ahead of the district’s first bond sale, and naming a new principal at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. The Board also tabled discussion on the formative evaluation on the superintendent.
Public Comment
One speaker addressed the board during the public comment period. Celestina Amizqueta petitioned the board to allow her daughter to participate simultaneously in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Lamar Academy and the P-Tech electrician technician program, arguing the IB organization’s own guidelines support her position.
“She has been an IB student since she was in elementary. She finished the three years at De Leon Middle School, and she has her heart set on completing year four and five so she can get the MYP certificate,” Amizqueta said. “According to the IB helpline from Washington, DC, a student is not required to be in the DP program because their MYP, PYP, CP, and DP programs are standalone programs.”
Amizqueta noted that the district does not offer the IB Career-related Programme, which she said would have allowed students to pursue both paths simultaneously. She also cited the P-Tech program’s cohort structure, noting her daughter is one of three females in the electrician technician track.
“She really wants both, and if possible, if the final decision rests with the school district, I would be very helpful and grateful,” Amizqueta said. Board President Lucia Regalado thanked her and said the matter would be looked into.
iReady Implementation Report
Associate Superintendent for Instructional Leadership Janet Nino introduced a presentation by a Curriculum Associates representative on iReady’s implementation in kindergarten through fifth grade in math and reading language arts. The presenter reported that McAllen ISD has seen incremental growth across all grade levels over the last three years, with the strongest gains at campuses that had previously struggled the most. Fidelity is defined as 45 minutes per week of personalized instruction with a 70% passing rate. The system includes overusage flags for teachers and principals when students exceed 50 minutes per week. The presenter assured the board that student data is not sold, used for advertising, or used to build student profiles.
Aviation Training Program Expansion
The board approved RFP No. 2027-1006 for aviation training services with McCown Flight Academy LLC for one year with three renewal options, 6-0. The program is expanding from 12 to 24 students by transitioning from a private pilot license to a sport pilot license at no additional cost. CTE Director Leo Saenz explained the program structure.
“The way we did that was move from a private pilot license to a sport license, which is just a few hours off of them being flying solo, but it afforded us to give it to 24 students instead of 12 for the exact same amount of money,” Saenz said.
All students earn an FAA drone license during their junior year through coursework at Memorial High School. Seniors fly at the airport. The program is currently at capacity with a waiting list.
“There’s a big demand for it,” Saenz said. “The people calling just want to make sure we didn’t limit it to a certain amount of kids.”
UIL No Pass No Play Advanced Course List
The board approved the advanced course list for UIL No Pass No Play rules for the 2026-2027 school year, 6-0.
Student Code of Conduct
The board approved the 2026-2027 student code of conduct, 6-0. The primary change this year was the addition of a prohibition on energy drinks on campus. The code of conduct is available in both English and Spanish on the district website.
Teacher Evaluation Calendar
The board approved the 2026-2027 Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System calendar, 6-0, with minor date adjustments made based on feedback from campus principals and teachers.
Facilities Construction Policy — CV Local
The board discussed proposed revisions to board policy CV Local governing facilities construction. Trustee Carreon presented a substantially rewritten version of the policy, describing the current version as fairly light and saying the revisions are intended to increase transparency and strengthen contracting processes ahead of the district’s bond construction program.
Superintendent Dr. René Gutiérrez noted that the district sold the first tranche of its 2026 bond on the day of the meeting.
“I think these are common sense changes that increase transparency for the board, the process, and for the public,” Gutiérrez said.
The board agreed to send the proposed revisions to TASB for legal compliance review, with action anticipated as early as the Aug. 25 regular meeting. The discussion counts as a first reading of the revised policy. City attorney Austin Ball said he had reviewed the proposed language and found no conflicts.
Delinquent Tax Collections Report
Tax collection firm representative Kelly Salazar reported that total collections for the fiscal year exceeded $3.4 million for the district. During the year, the firm mailed over 14,000 demand statements, made and received approximately 5,600 calls, texted approximately 7,000 accounts, knocked on 454 doors, filed 183 lawsuits, and currently has 340 lawsuits pending representing over $1.8 million in base penalty and interest. Five tax sales were conducted during the year.
Tax Collections and Outstanding Taxes
Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Lorena Garcia reported that fourth quarter tax collections totaled $1.7 million, with $1.478 million for maintenance and operations and $235,000 for interest and sinking. Approximately $7.876 million in outstanding taxes from the 2025-2026 tax year will carry into the current fiscal year for continued collection.
Investment Policy and Related Items
The board approved the annual resolution re-adopting the district’s investment policy and strategies with no changes, 6-0, as required by the Public Funds Investment Act. The board also approved the resolution designating investment officers and the authorized broker/dealer list, both 6-0.
Budget Amendments
The board approved two budget amendments. The first, for fiscal year 2025-2026, authorizes the final payment of $3,040,831 from previously committed fund balance to complete the district’s $4 million commitment to the Quinta Mazatlan project. Trustee Haddad confirmed on the record that no bond proceeds were used.
The second, for fiscal year 2026-2027, increases the general fund budget by $2.7 million. Major items include $964,478 for kitchen equipment to support scratch cooking at district food service facilities, including commercial dishwashers, blast chillers, tilting skillets, and freezer doors; $1.37 million from CTE fund balance for instruction, extracurricular travel, and transportation; funding for a TASB HR staffing review; mechanical fume hood and roof repairs at Nikki Rowe High School for a South Texas College dual enrollment chemistry course; and mariachi uniforms. Both amendments were approved 6-0.
Personnel Actions
The board approved human resources recommendations for the 2026-2027 school year, 6-0, following a closed session that lasted from 6:18 to 8:25 p.m. Veronica Guerra was approved as principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School for the 2026-2027 school year, 6-0.
Superintendent Evaluation
The board tabled the formative evaluation of Superintendent Gutiérrez, 6-0, without explanation.
Upcoming Meetings
Regular board meeting: Monday, Aug. 25, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., Dr. Ricardo Chapa Board Room, Administration Building
Regular board meeting: Monday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., Dr. Ricardo Chapa Board Room, Administration Building