BY BROOKE SJOBERG
What they’re saying
Going forward
It’s catastrophic what’s happening to public education in terms of funding, but I can no longer budget on hopes because it’s not fair to our community. It’s depressing. AMBER LANDRUM, RRISD BOARD SECRETARY
Covington said administrators identied multiple areas in which to reduce expenditures, including reducing all service calendars by one day, reducing central oce administration and support positions as well as school level support positions. Reductions to travel, funding for each department, elimination of phone stipends altogether and increasing the class size formula are also on the table. Despite including a proposed increase to the basic allotment, Board Secretary Amber Landrum highlighted that this early version of the district’s operating budget for the 2025-26 school year comes with a $16 million shortfall even before a compensation increase for employees. The school district has called on legislators to increase the basic allotment for the last several budget cycles, and say the $220 increase proposed will likely not be enough to meet current needs.
Regarding campus closures and stang cuts—implemented by districts across the state to make up the di erence in projected shortfalls—Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said in February it is more a consequence of planning for enrollment growth that is no longer happening rather than a need for funds. Area budget hurdles RRISD is not alone in facing dicult budget decisions, as Georgetown and Leander ISDs have had similar conversations about budget outlooks for next year. $17M shortfall projected for LISDs 200+ LISD teacher positions to be eliminated $3.72M shortfall projected for GISD 44 potential GISD positions to be eliminated
She encouraged administrators to prepare for a worse-case scenario, and take a “harder look” at the budget. Covington said the human resources team will present a compensation plan outlining any poten- tial changes and RRISD will approve a budget for the next scal year by the end of June. The March meeting is just one step in the district’s budgetary process, and the district will hold additional meet- ings regarding the budget before nal approval.
SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISD, LEANDER ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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