The San Marcos CISD board of trustees approved amending the district's 2013-14 budget in a 5-1 vote Nov. 18 to allow for the partial funding of a liaison between the city and district during implementation of the city's Youth Master Plan.

District 4 Trustee Kathy Hansen voted against the amendment and District 5 Trustee John Crowley abstained.

The position, which is being funded in large part by the city of San Marcos, will cost the district $12,500. Superintendent Mark Eads said during next year's budgeting process, the district will review the benefit it has gotten from funding the position and make a decision about whether to continue funding it or not.

The San Marcos Youth Master Plan has been in the works since 2012 and was approved by city council Sept. 17. The plan focuses on young people from birth through age 24 who live within San Marcos CISD's 210-square-mile district.

Under the plan, six priority areas were identified, including: improving economic opportunities, empowering families to help students succeed, improving access to developmental activities, improving mental health and wellness, building supportive networks throughout the education lifecycle and improving communication and community engagement in support of San Marcos' youth.

District 3 Trustee Lupe Costilla said she was concerned that because this is mostly a city project and the district's boundaries include areas outside San Marcos, students living in those areas might not be eligible to receive services offered under the plan.

"I really am very supportive of this Youth Master Plan," Costilla said. "I think there is a lot of work that has been put into it, and I think that we do need that. However, I do have a concern about some of these students who are not within the city limits of San Marcos."

Eads said students living outside the city limits would not be disqualified from receiving services.

"They're not going to go, 'You don't live in the city limits. Sorry we're not taking care of you. You can't participate in these programs that are offered by the city,'" Eads said. "That's not going to happen."

Hansen cited the district's lack of input during the hiring process for the position as her reason for voting against the amendment.

The board also voted unanimously to cancel the regularly scheduled board meeting on Dec. 16