More job cuts hit Edcouch-Elsa

EDCOUCH — Sixteen more Edcouch-Elsa schools employees lost their jobs this week as the district continues to cut costs in the face of a $5.6 million financial shortfall.

But administrators found new hope Thursday in news that money could be headed their way as part of the proposed $875 billion economic stimulus package currently before the U.S. Congress.

The $10.3 million currently designated for Edcouch-Elsa is among $217 million slated for Rio Grande Valley schools should the measure pass without alteration, according to estimates provided by the office of U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes.

The proposed funds have tight restrictions on how they can be spent, however, and won't be used to pay off Edcouch-Elsa's outstanding financial obligations, Assistant Superintendent Frank Perez said.

"But as we're making cuts, this is money we wouldn't have had to spend," he said. "It would be additional money we can invest in the education of our students."

Since late last year, the district has struggled to address its years of debt, overspending and budgetary deficits.

A first round of layoffs last month affected 20 percent of Edcouch-Elsa's personnel, including more than 200 employees in areas such as maintenance, teaching assistance and security.

The move saved the school system an estimated $3.7 million, district officials said.

This week's cuts primarily targeted people in administrative positions at the district's eight campuses. An assistant principal, several supervisors, and a handful of counselors and social service workers lost their jobs.

Perez said Thursday that future rounds of layoffs are unfortunate but likely.

"We find ourselves in a very dire situation right now," he said. "But we're doing what we have to to bring the district back to financial solvency."

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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.