The United ISD Board of Trustees held a regular meeting at the Student Activity Center on Monday, March 30, 2026, where school consolidation was discussed.
Courtesy/UISD
Amparo Gutierrea Elementary School exterior view.
Matias De Llano Elementary School exterior view.
Courtesy/Google maps
Frank Castillo, a former UISD Board of Trustees member, addresses the board during their regular meeting at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Center on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Courtesy/UISD
Dr. Tyler King, a Laredo City Council member representing District VI, addresses the UISD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Center on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Courtesy/UISD
THE SCHOOL BOARD STANDOFF:
Hey guys, we hope you brought your boxing gloves to the board meeting.
When you send your kids to school, you expect a stable environment and a familiar classroom for them to grow.
You absolutely do not expect to watch your own children stand before a board of trustees, pleading for their second home to stay open while the district counts pennies to cover a deficit.
The battle for the 956 classrooms just hit a massive roadblock as the community rose up to protect their own.
Grab your magnifying glasses. We are doing a full breakdown of the UISD standoff. 👇🏽
📍 THE LOCATION & THE INVOLVED
- The District: United Independent School District (UISD)
- The Schools: Amparo Gutierrez Elementary and Matias De Llano Elementary
- The Key Players: Trustee Michelle Molina and Superintendent Dr. Gerardo Cruz
📅 THE TIMELINE: A BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET BATTLE
The tension in the room was at an all time high during the latest board session.
UISD administration arrived with a full presentation aimed at cutting costs through consolidation.
Chief Financial Officer Laida Benavides laid out the cold numbers for Matias De Llano.
The district estimated they could save $2,246,786 by closing that single campus.
The savings would come from cutting $1.9 million in payroll and benefits plus thousands more in supplies and services.
A similar report for Amparo Gutierrez was ready to go, but the board never even got to see it.
Trustee Michelle Molina stepped up and made a motion to table the entire item, effectively stopping the closures in their tracks for now.
🔎 THE FORENSICS: THE VOICES OF THE 956
This was not just about spreadsheets and line items.
The public comment section turned into a raw display of community power.
Parents and teachers were joined by the students themselves who begged the board to keep their schools alive.
Laredo City Council member Tyler King even stepped into the arena, urging the board to reconsider because a school is more than just a building.
While the district claims there will be zero layoffs and staff will simply be moved, the parents are not buying it.
A formal complaint has already been filed by a group of parents from Amparo Gutierrez.
Trustees Martinez and Molina are now demanding an exhaustive analysis of the entire budget to find savings elsewhere before they ever think about shutting a school door again.
In the middle of this chaos, the district did secure one win in the courtroom.
A $1 million lawsuit against the Superintendent and the UISD Police Chief was dismissed with prejudice.
⚖️ THE AFTERMATH: THE STANDOFF
The parents stood firm.
The board hit pause.
The schools stay open for now.
Always appreciate you guys for stopping by, reading the hard facts, and standing up for the future of our children in the 956.
We see y'all in the comments.
Drop a 🛑 if you think the schools should stay open forever, or a ✂️ if you think the budget cuts are unavoidable. 👇🏽
#desaforaps #laredo #956 #uisd
Disclaimer: The content provided in this publication is for educational, informational, and news purposes only. DESAFORAPS strives to deliver accurate and impactful forensic breakdowns of local events based on raw news data, school board proposals, and public records. However, readers are advised to seek professional legal counsel and guidance for their specific legal inquiries and concerns. The publication does not assume any responsibility for actions taken by individuals based on the information presented. All school closures and financial incentives remain proposed until officially voted on by the UISD Board. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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