La Joya Independent School District

La Joya, TX - La Joya ISD has officially begun developing its 2026–27 budget, reaffirming the district’s commitment to strong financial stewardship and its long-term vision outlined in Achieving Excellence Together: 2030. 

This year’s budget cycle centers on a clear goal: ensuring resources directly benefit students, strengthen campuses, and support staff across the district.

As planning begins, the district is focused on reinvesting in programs that elevate student learning, improve day-to-day operations, expand support services, and ensure fair, competitive compensation for all employees. The approach is designed to meet student needs today while protecting financial stability for the future.

La Joya ISD’s budget priorities mirror the same commitments that guide the district’s School Actions work—putting academic outcomes, student well-being, and proven instructional strategies first. The budget is anchored in four key focus areas: academic improvement strategies, strategic compensation, expanded student supports, and operational innovation.

These priorities help ensure every dollar is used responsibly and in ways that have the greatest impact on teaching and learning.

A significant part of this year’s planning includes strategic school actions, which allow the district to reinvest savings from operational efficiencies and campus realignments. Those savings are then directed toward evidence-based practices that strengthen instruction, accelerate student progress, and increase access to meaningful learning experiences. At the heart of every financial decision is one guiding question: How does this investment improve student outcomes?

Together, these strategies create a unified, student-centered approach—one that supports academic growth, strengthens campuses, and protects the district’s long-term financial health.

“As we begin shaping the 2026–27 budget, our focus is simple: invest where it matters most—our students,” said Mirgitt Crespo, Chief of Business, Finance & Administrative Services. “Through careful planning, strong guardrails, and alignment to our strategic plan, we are making sure resources are directed toward programs that accelerate learning, strengthen our workforce, and support student well-being.”

This year’s budget process includes expanded campus needs assessments, stakeholder input, zero-based departmental budget reviews, and a continued emphasis on academic return on investment. Operational savings will be reinvested into priorities that modernize infrastructure, strengthen staffing levels, and increase access to extracurricular and enrichment opportunities districtwide.

Crespo emphasized the importance of transparency and long-term responsibility.

“We remain committed to protecting the district’s financial health while also making bold, student-centered decisions,” Crespo said. “Every investment must move us closer to our North Star goal: improving student performance and expanding access to high-quality opportunities at every campus.”

Throughout the spring, La Joya ISD will conduct a series of budget workshops, departmental hearings, revenue reviews, and public hearings in preparation for final adoption in June.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcey Sorensen highlighted how aligning the budget to the district’s strategic plan strengthens support for both students and staff.

“By connecting our financial planning to our long-term goals, we ensure that students and staff have the tools, support, and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Dr. Sorensen. “This budget cycle reflects our responsibility to deliver educational excellence on every campus, in every classroom, for every student, every day. Our parents asked us to invest in quality programs and support for their children. This budget will do just that.”

As La Joya ISD moves forward, the district remains committed to making thoughtful, student-first decisions that ensure every child has access to high-quality learning experiences. The 2026–27 budget is not just a financial plan—it is a reflection of the district’s promise to its families: to invest wisely, lead with purpose, and build a stronger future for all.