EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — National telecommunications company, Spectrum, is partnering with El Paso high schools and offering seniors an internship opportunity that could lead to their college tuition costs being either partially or completely covered by the company.

Spectrum, the national telecommunications company, is offering high school seniors in El Paso a paid internship opportunity, with the possibility for partial or full college tuition coverage should they parlay their internship into a full-time position.

"That is our goal," said Claudia Camacho, HR Director for Spectrum. "At the end of the day, we want you to become an intern, then we want to convert you into a full-time employee where you can start your career with Charter [Spectrum's parent company]. It is a fabulous opportunity, we will pay for your degree...and we want you to stay here and grow through our ranks."

Spectrum's 12 to 14-month High School Internship Program sets students up with a paid internship at one of the company's call centers in El Paso during their senior year.

However, students are asked to apply during their junior year, which "sets them up for full-time training during the summer leading up to their senior year," according to Spectrum.

Once the student graduates from high school, they have the opportunity to take a full-time position with Spectrum, which qualifies them for one of two tuition incentive plans.

If a student chooses to study at a local university such as the University of Texas El Paso, Spectrum will provide a $10,000 tuition reimbursement each year.

Meanwhile, if a student pursues their higher education through the online portal, Guild, their tuition will be covered at 100 percent.

Spectrum said it partners with more than 300 higher education programs country-wide and that many of its employees opt to work for the company while pursuing their degrees.

Camacho said that the benefits of taking on an internship with the company are two-fold.

"What [students] are going to experience is not only getting a fabulous internship opportunity that pays very well but they're also going to be exposed to our Spectrum products, which means exposed to the latest technology of our products, getting to know them inside and out, and then providing fabulous customer service to our customers," said Camacho, adding they'll also become familiar with the latest software that will help them as they continue their professional journey.

Spectrum currently has 24 internship positions available; 12 at its location off Airport Rd. and 12 on the east side, near Gran Vista Drive.

For more information, visit Spectrum's job board here.

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The PIE Sisters are a local musical gem here in El Paso, TX and those of us who aren't living under a rock are eagerly anticipating their second album. If you follow the music group already then you know that the PIE Sisters had a release party in April for their newest song, and this release also just happens to be the kickoff for their next album!

Change

For any of you who have never heard of the PIE Sisters, they are a hard working and passionate group of musicians making soulful, pop and R&B hits. And if you haven't guessed it yet, they're sisters too! The group performs in venues all over EP and frequently hold the stage at some of the bigger events in the city like Toys n Tunes and more recently, The Leap Day Festival!

PIE at Toys n Tunes fund drive

On April 12th, PIE released their newest track, Change, produced by another El Paso powerhouse musician, Stan Z. The first release from their anticipated 2nd album which you can listen to on Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube!

"Change" is such a well put together track that flows with power and sincerity through each word sung. The PIE Sisters create that classic R&B dynamic where their words linger over the slight, almost country-like twang of guitar notes that follow through their verses. The track was released at Carlos Bombach Park in the late evening. The PIE Music crew asked people to come out with their picnic gear and get comfy as they got ready to release the new track.

_Change_ single_cover art

The turnout for the event went beautifully, it was an intimate event where the PIE Sisters had guests write down a story of a change theyve gone through during their lives, then the song was airdropped to each person at the event while everyone got comfy and played the song together. There were reports of good feelings and even a few sentimental tears.

This is what the Pie Sisters themselves had to say about the new track:

"Change is about anticipating the hope that comes with a new season. Whether that season be healing, revelatory, redirecting, this song is for you. A reminder that it’s okay to start over."

"Our "Change" single kicks off the new season of music we're diving into with the work on our 2nd album already underway! Approaching our craft differently with a new concept, new truths to unveil, new and refined sound, and a new and deeper delve into songwriting. 2024 will be a long-awaited look into another side of who we truly are. With some surprise music and business collaborations, we aim to connect with people on a profound level that'll allow for healing and growth, not just for us but for every single person that comes across our music. That's still the goal. That our music brings joy, peace, and comfort."

Go follow the PIE Sisters and get ready for some more new stuff leading up to this highly anticipated second album!

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a $300 million fund to help organizations that provide shelter and services to migrants across the U.S.

Over $12.2 million has been allocated to various organizations in our sector.

You can see the list of organizations here.

These funds are referred to as S-S-P, or Shelter and Services Program.

Non-governmental organizations like the Annunciation House, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and the Salvation Army, among others could receive these allocated funds.

The county and city of El Paso are on the list as well.

ABC-7 spoke with the Deputy Director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, John Martin who said they have applied for these funds in the past. They are mainly using them for support staff, utilities, food, and other related activities.

"And so we're not only working with our international homeless population, but our local homeless population," Deputy Director Martin said. "These funds are directed at the migrants, specifically those that have been encountered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection."

Deputy Director Martin also said, funding for a staff person means that person will only work with the migrant population, not the local one.

ABC-7 also spoke with El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser on how the city has used these funds and how they work with the NGOs who also have allocated funding from the federal government.

"As we all know, the immigration process is broken, and until they fix it, as a border community and as a border city, we have a huge responsibility as asylum seekers coming to the United States," Mayor Leeser said.

DHS announced that more than $2 million will be going to the city of El Paso, and more than $4.5 million will go to the county.

As for local non-profits, the Annunciation House is set to receive over $380,000.

The Opportunity Center for the Homeless is granted $270,000.

"The $2 million that we get, we're very thankful, but it's not even close to the amount of money we need to be able to provide the service for the federal government," said Mayor Leeser.

The federal government reimbursed the city of El Paso during the migrant surges in 2022 and 2023.

The city purchased Morehead Middle School with federal funding, and they've been improving the facility and hope to be able to use it in any local emergency in the future.

The Ysleta Indians will head out on the road to take on the Del Valle Conquistadores at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.

Last Friday, Ysleta got themselves on the board against Horizon, but Horizon never followed suit. They blew past the Scorpions 16-0. The win made it back-to-back victories for Ysleta.

Andrea Contreras was a standout: she went 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs, and four RBI. Another player making a difference was Victoria Garcia, who scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Del Valle waltzed into their game on Friday with ten straight wins... but they left with 11. They were the clear victor by a 14-6 margin over the Knights.

Remi Barron made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits (and not a single walk). Barron was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off three home runs while going 4-for-6.

In other batting news, Alexandra Ramos was a standout: she scored a run while going 3-for-5. Milliana Torrez was another key contributor, getting on base in four of her six plate appearances with a triple, a run, and an RBI.

Ysleta's win bumped their record up to 30-3-1. As for Del Valle, they pushed their record up to 24-2 with that victory, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season.

Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Ysleta has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .503. However, it's not like Del Valle struggles in that department as they've averaged .578. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Ysleta might still be hurting after the 9-1 loss they got from Del Valle in their previous meeting two weeks ago. A big factor in that loss was the dominant performance of Barron, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, a triple, and a run. Now that Ysleta knows the damage she can cause, will they be able to stop her this time? There's only one way to find out.

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As summer nears, school districts across El Paso will begin working on their budgets for the 2024-25 school year.

Some, like the El Paso Independent School District, have begun holding workshops to estimate their revenue and expenses for the year.

With no additional state funding from the 2023 legislative session and federal COVID-19 relief funds set to expire in September, education finance experts expect school districts all over the state to make drastic changes to their school budgets.

“You’ll find probably over half of the school districts this year will be running a deficit budget,” former Democratic state Rep. Paul Colbert told El Paso Matters about the coming school year.

Colbert has over 50 years of education finance experience. He has worked as a consultant for EPISD and served on the House’s Local School Districts Finance Oversight Committee.

School districts likely will have to decide whether to cut programs, raise taxes, or rely on their reserves to keep operating, Colbert said.

The Socorro and Canutillo Independent School Districts are both dealing with financial crises and budget deficits brought on largely by unfunded increases to their compensation packages and decreases in student enrollment.

Many school districts were banking on lawmakers to approve funding boosts for public schools using the state’s $32.7 billion surplus during the 2023 legislative session. The funding was tied to the controversial school voucher program and didn’t materialize.

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Here are the answers to seven common questions about school budgets.

When do school districts set their budget?

Most public school districts set their budgets in the summer before the beginning of the fiscal year, which can start on July 1 or Sept. 1.

In El Paso, most school districts have a fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

The process normally starts in the spring, when school districts hold workshops to decide what should be included in the budget. These workshops are open to the public and often broadcast online.

School districts must then hold a public forum, where community members can make suggestions and share their thoughts about the budget.

The district’s school board must vote on the budget and what it funds – including salaries, facilities, instructional programs, equipment, transportation and more.

These budgets can change over the course of the school year with the board’s approval depending on a variety of factors like fluctuations in enrollment or unexpected repairs.

What is a budget deficit?

In education, a budget deficit happens when a district plans to spend more than it makes in funding during a fiscal year.

A deficit can happen for a variety of reasons, including one-time expenses like repairs and renovations, or ongoing costs like employee pay raises.

School districts will usually need to tap into their unassigned fund balance – essentially their savings accounts for emergencies – to cover a deficit, Colbert said.

What is an unassigned fund balance?

An unassigned fund balance is where school districts store dollars that have not been allocated for spending and can often be seen as a district’s reserve.

School districts measure their fund balance by calculating the number of days it can be used to operate without additional revenue.

Though the state does not have requirements on how much school districts should have in their unassigned fund balance, they need to have enough to keep running for at least 75 days to get an A in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.

Canutillo ISD Board President Armando Rodriguez said in January the district had enough in its unassigned fund balance to fund the district for 73 days. Socorro ISD staff said in January the district had enough for 55 days.

The rating system gives school districts a score on their financial management practices. It is used by the Texas Education Commissioner to determine their accreditation status, according to the Texas Education Code.

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How are schools funded?

School districts get funds from three main sources: local property taxes, the state and the federal government.

Federal funding can vary from district to district depending on a variety of factors like school size and the income level of its students. It is usually the smallest portion of a district’s revenue.

In El Paso, most schools receive federal dollars for child nutrition under the National School Lunch Program and grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which are meant to provide resources for low-income schools and at-risk student populations.

Most school districts allocate these dollars to a special revenue fund, which can only be used on specific types of purchases and can not be used to pay for debt or cover a deficit.

The state provides school districts funding using a formula based on enrollment, attendance and student demographics, along with other factors.

Texas gives school districts a basic allotment for each student enrolled in the district. The allotment has been $6,160 per student since 2019.

During a special Legislative Session in 2023, lawmakers attempted to increase the allotment to $6,700 per student under a bill tied to a voucher program that would have allowed students to attend private schools using state funds. The bill was rejected by the House, leaving public schools without any funding increases.

A district’s overall budget allocation from the state depends on its average daily attendance, or ADA. If a school has a 100% ADA, it would receive all of its basic budget allocations.

Locally, school districts also get funding from property taxes.

School districts’ tax rates are divided into two components: Interest and Sinking (I&S) and Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rates.

The I&S tax rate pays for debt used to fund the construction of schools and facilities; while M&O tax rate can be used to pay for day-to-day expenses like salaries, supplies, utilities, insurance and equipment.

How much do property taxes pay for schools?

While it varies from one district to another, El Paso schools are primarily funded by the state, not property taxes.

Colbert said the amount of funding a district gets from taxes depends on how much taxable wealth their students have.

“All of the school districts in El Paso County are what we refer to as property-poor school districts,” Colbert said. “That means that they are at best at the state average wealth per pupil, but most of them are well below the state average.”

In these cases, the state will pay for a larger portion of a school district’s budget.

About 40% of the El Paso Independent School District’s annual budget for the 2023-24 school year came from local revenue sources, which are primarily property taxes. That number was 26% at the Socorro Independent School District and 21% at the Ysleta Independent School District, during the same school year.

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How much will you pay in school taxes

Homeowners can calculate their school tax bill by determining their taxable value: Subtracting exemptions such as the state’s $100,000 homestead exemption from the appraised value of your home. (Property owners may also qualify for additional exemptions if they’re disabled or age 65 or older.)

Then, divide the final value by 100 and multiply by your school district’s tax rate.

When do school districts set their tax rates?

School districts usually set their property tax rates in late summer, but have until Sept. 29 to approve them, according to the Texas Comptroller’s website.

If a district plans to adopt a tax rate before approving a budget, it must notify the community and hold a public meeting to discuss the rate. The district will then need to repeat the process to adopt a budget, according to the Texas Education Code.

School districts are required to hold an election to ratify their tax rates if a board adopts one that is higher than previously approved.

Do school districts have debt?

In Texas, school districts acquire two main kinds of debt: tax-supported and revenue-supported debt.

Tax-supported debt is paid for using property taxes and is usually approved by voters in bond elections with a few exceptions. Over 98% of school district debt in the state was approved by voters and is used to pay for large projects such as new buildings, renovations and transportation, according to the Texas Bond Review Board.

Revenue-supported debt is paid using the money school districts make that does not come from property taxes, including enrollment, athletic events and fundraisers. This type of debt generally does not need voter approval, according to the Texas Comptroller’s website.

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