What happened: The Midland ISD Board of Trustees met last Tuesday, March 24, to review early planning for the 2026–27 budget, receive bond construction updates, including pipeline relocation at the new Midland High School, review ongoing performance concerns at IDEA Travis, and consider adopting a new K–5 reading curriculum by Bluebonnet Learning.

Key points:

  • Budget planning: Trustees reviewed the district’s second budget update as planning began for the next fiscal year. District officials said priorities include maintaining a balanced budget and funding compensation increases. The district expects preliminary property values in April, a compensation plan in May, budget adoption in June, and a tax rate decision by September.

Officials said early assumptions include slightly declining attendance, lower interest earnings, and conservative enrollment and staffing projections. For the current $508.2 million budget, the district now projects a surplus after adopting a $7.8 million deficit, citing higher enrollment and one-time revenues.

  • IDEA Travis: Trustees heard from IDEA Public Schools on its improvement plan for IDEA Travis, a campus operated under a Senate Bill 1882 partnership. MISD entered the partnership in 2020 to turn around the previously failing Travis Elementary and avoid potential state intervention or closure. IDEA Travis is now in its third year as a D-rated campus after earning a B in 2022.

IDEA officials said they project students meeting grade-level expectations will fall in the high 30% range, up from 8–14% before the partnership, but still below expectations. They said performance is “not good enough for our students” and cited leadership and teacher turnover as key challenges.

  • Pipeline relocation: Trustees received an update on the relocation of the crude oil pipeline at the new Midland High School site. Staff said Energy Transfer is on site and preparing to begin excavation within the next week. Officials said the work remains on schedule and will not delay the school’s 2028 opening.

Trustees previously approved relocating the pipeline for about $2.8 million, compared to roughly $1.2 million to leave it in place. Board members said the higher cost was justified within the broader $450 million project.

  • Bluebonnet Learning: Trustees considered adopting Bluebonnet Learning, a state-developed K–5 reading curriculum aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards and grounded in the science of reading. District staff said the program closely mirrors the current Amplify curriculum, allowing teachers to transition without major changes.

Administrators said the switch would reduce costs, with annual consumable materials costs falling by $300,000–$800,000, most of which would be covered by state funding. The digital platform would also be provided at no cost.

  • Special education: Trustees received an update on short-term special improvements following an external audit tied to incidents at South Elementary in fall 2025. Recent efforts include reorganizing the department, restoring clerical support, and addressing staffing gaps.

    The district is developing expanded training for summer 2026 and the 2026–27 school year, focused on federal compliance, discipline, and behavioral management, and improving Individualized Education Programs. Training will include both special education and general education staff.

    District leaders said demand for special education services continues to grow, with more than 4,000 students, about 14% of enrollment, receiving services.

  • Encore facility: Trustees approved reallocating about $5.9 million from the 2023 bond to build a new facility for the Encore program, which serves students ages 18–22 with special needs. The program currently serves 17 students and is designed to expand to more than 45. New construction was selected over a roughly $4 million renovation option. You can read The Permian Press full coverage of the item here.