MARFA — The Marfa Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees met this week to discuss new early childhood education initiatives and security upgrades for district campuses.
Trustees present included Ruben Martinez, Teresa Nuñez, Rene Gonzales, Lori Flores, Stela Fuentez, and Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez.
Early Childhood Education Partnerships
Marfa ISD is launching an early childhood education partnership program, following the success of nearby Fort Davis ISD. Last year, Fort Davis increased its state funding from $70,000 to $1.35 million through similar partnerships. The initiative involves forming one-year renewable contracts with early childhood centers to dual enroll pre-kindergarten through second-grade students. In exchange, the district receives 50% of the additional state aid for those students.
Marfa ISD entered into a one-year agreement with Fort Davis ISD in September. Under this partnership, Marfa benefits from Fort Davis’ expertise in establishing these agreements, while Fort Davis ISD receives an upfront fee of $3,000 plus 10% of the funding generated from the new partnerships.
At Monday’s meeting, Alferez announced that Marfa ISD had secured its first official partnership with Flowers in the Garden Child Development Center in El Paso, enrolling 18 pre-kindergarten students. Alferez explained that the district plans to follow the Fort Davis model, sharing the additional funding equally with the partner schools.
The initiative aims to generate additional revenue for the district while offering partner schools access to Marfa ISD’s curriculum and the flexibility granted by its “District of Innovation” status. This designation allows certified teachers to work outside their usual certifications, a move designed to address teacher shortages across Texas.
The district hopes that, through this partnership program, it will enroll 200 additional students. Alferez emphasized that this will help Marfa ISD recover financially and move beyond its current budget deficits. The district adopted a $1 million deficit budget for the second consecutive year and paid $1.7 million in recapture fees, a state-mandated payment for districts with higher property values and lower enrollment.
“Recapture is what’s killing us in this district,” Alferez said. “Without it, we would have a balanced budget. We estimate around 200 new students will help us get out of recapture and put us into the black.”
In addition, Alferez is close to finalizing another partnership with Just 4 You Learning Center in El Paso, which could add an additional 70 to 80 students.
Security Upgrades
The board also reviewed plans for security upgrades funded by a $310,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The grant, part of state efforts to improve school safety in the wake of the Uvalde tragedy, is being used to enhance security across Marfa ISD.
Alferez updated the board on the use of grant funds, including the installation of bullet-resistant film on windows. He requested approval to spend additional funds on security cameras, panic buttons for staff, vape detectors for bathrooms, and fencing upgrades.
“We’ve found blind spots in our current camera system,” Alferez said. “We need to address these areas to improve overall campus security.”
The district plans to install silent panic alert buttons for staff. These small, ID card-sized devices can send immediate alerts to local law enforcement, even without internet access. All school staff will be issued these devices.
Alferez also presented plans to install HALO Smart Sensors in junior high and high school bathrooms. These sensors are designed to detect vaping, THC use, aggression, and gunshots. In emergency situations, the system can alert school administrators and the school resource officer (SRO), even if a student uses a specific key word like “help” or exhibits a certain tone of voice.
“Vaping is a national issue,” Alferez said. “We’re trying to keep it out of our schools while also educating students about the dangers of vaping.”
The district is also planning to upgrade the elementary school’s playground fence. The new fence will be 8 feet high and include privacy netting. While the TEA recommends adding barbed wire to fences under 8 feet, Alferez said he aims to avoid creating a “prison-like” environment for students.
The board unanimously approved the proposed security upgrades.
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