Education
BY THOMAS LEFFLER
School closures, staff cuts part of JISD cost saving discussions
If all staff recommendations move forward, the estimated shortfall for 2026-27 would be $13.9 million. For 2025-26, a staffing goal in the CAPA is to decrease the shortfall through a hiring pause on approximately 162 vacancies, as well as millions in position eliminations, reductions or policy-based changes, according to the CAPA document. Specific positions and programs will be recom- mended for elimination based on a staffing study by MoakCasey and other factors. According to board documents, one of three JISD commitments during the CAPA process is that no certified classroom teachers will be reduced in the 2025-26 school year. The CAPA also recommends consol- idating two elementary schools and one middle school to generate annual savings of $4.71 million to $6.13 million. District staff are anticipated to present a consol- idation plan in January, with plans to transition all staff and students to other campuses before the start of the 2026-27 year. Staff also recommended calling for another VATRE in November 2026. What trustees are saying Ryan said she did not feel comfortable discuss- ing the CAPAs at the moment, voting to postpone the approval. “I’m not willing to make a hasty decision without all the information,” Ryan said. Kenoyer said she was ready to discuss each line item if needed. “I’m not saying that we necessarily have to blindly accept everything that’s in here, but I think [the] administration needs feedback on our tolerance level based on what we’re hearing from our constituents,” Kenoyer said.
Judson ISD trustees have paused action on two Corrective and Preventive Action, or CAPA, plans, which work to outline a goal to cut down on the district’s $40 million projected shortfall. The two plans outline recommendations for staffing reductions, program eliminations, school consolidation and other measures to bring a near-balanced budget by the end of the 2027-28
JISD cost saving measures
$6.5M: Position reductions $5.5M: Campus consolidations $1.94M: Elimination of grandfathered stipends, other staffing policies $1.71M: Other reductions $500,000: Software program reductions $494,375: Elimination or restructure of enrichment programs $444,375: Restructuring of 2-way dual language to 1-way $171,087: Reduction of cabinet base pay by 2% of midpoint, elimination of two deputy superintendent positions and CFO position
school year. A closer look
The board voted 4-3 on Dec. 18 to postpone CAPA discussion until January. Board President Monica Ryan, board Vice President Amanda Poteet, and trustees Lesley Lee and Stephanie Jones voted for postponement, while trustees José Macias Jr., Suzanne Kenoyer and Laura Stanford dissented. The current recurring shortfall faced by the district is $18.3 million, according to board documents. For fiscal year 2025-26, $15.8 million in one-time costs for self-funded health insurance is projected to be part of the shortfall, leaving the projected 2025-26 shortfall at $40 million. The staff recommendations follow the district’s voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, which failed. If approved, the $1.0796 tax rate would have provided approximately $21 million in annual revenue. The approach The CAPA discussed in earlier December board meetings recommended $16.79 million in reductions, with the remainder of recurring debt to be discussed in spring 2026. A Dec. 17 revision recommends $17.76 million in the first year, or FY 2025-26 reductions, and $34.92 million in overall reductions, according to board documents.
By the numbers $18.3M is JISD’s recurring shortfall $40M is the district’s projected 2025-26 shortfall $1.0796 is the tax rate that would have given the district $21 million in annual revenue $16.79M is the amount of cost-savings the district could yield if it approves the proposed CAPA plans
SOURCE: JISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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