Education
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
The Leander ISD board of trustees approved a resolution outlining the framework to address financial sustainability and long- range planning at a Sept. 30 meeting. Budget projections show a $21.5 million shortfall by fiscal year 2027-28. Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape said LISD’s fund balance will be out of Texas Education Agency compliance by then if reductions are not implemented. Closing and repurposing three elementary schools were presented as potential cost-saving measures in May, prompting community backlash, and additional cost- saving measures have been discussed since. LISD approves resolution for fiscal planning
The framework
The resolution is intended to establish a clear process for long-range planning, define roles and outline timelines for the 2026-27 school year and beyond. Key details include:
• Establish criteria and thresholds for campus consolidation • Develop a process to address low and high enrollment • Report campuses identified as underutilized annually based on criteria from the demographic update Campus operations and consolidation • Consult with campus leadership, staff and community stakeholders before implementing changes to educational programs Program analysis and modifications • Evaluate opportunities to generate revenue from real estate assets • Consider meeting district facility needs using existing facilities through collocation or repurposing Facilities and asset management
• Conduct a comprehensive staffing analysis to examine the growth in personnel costs • Develop staffing guidelines • Consider the impact on campuses that experienced prior reductions • Complete a staffing study to adjust central office staffing levels Expenditure reduction strategies • Engage with the community and staff members to implement solutions Community and staff engagement • Conduct an analysis of available copper pennies • Implement an open enrollment policy • Prioritize attendance improvement • Request the Texas Education Agency restore hold- harmless funding • Explore other revenue-generation opportunities Revenue generation strategies
Leander ISD’s fund balance Minimum fund balance requirement Actual fund balance Projected fund balance $200M
Going forward
the road here; we’ve got to do something.” During the Oct. 9 meeting, the board decided on a list of commitments administration needs to make when deciding which budget “levers” to pull to close future budget deficits. Chief Operations Officer Jeremy Trimble said the levers, which include revenue generation levers and expenditure reduction levers, are still being developed.
The board was previously slated to vote on potential cost-saving measures at the Oct. 9 board meeting, but the decision was pushed back. Further meetings will be held to go through information requested in the Sept. 30 resolution. “We are asking for a lot of data,” board President Anna Smith said during the Sept. 30 meeting. “... I do believe this board will be holding administration accountable for getting that data. I know none of us want to be in that position again. This is the end of
$150M $100M $50M $0
Fiscal year
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
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