Overview
- Tuesday night the superintendent released a recommended 2026–27 budget that would affect 558 positions as part of a package to close a $181 million deficit and the public comment period runs through the June 18 board vote.
- Austin ISD guarantees alternative placements for employees who hold teaching certificates while non‑certified staff face greater risk of job loss or reduced hours.
- The draft cuts include eliminating 10.5 librarian roles plus shifting remaining librarians to part‑time or shared assignments, reducing counselor and assistant principal staffing, and converting some campus supports to save millions.
- Instructional changes would raise class sizes in grades 2–5 at some schools and reduce teacher planning time to conserve $22.4 million in classroom costs described by the district.
- The budget relies on one‑time moves such as monetizing four properties for about $60 million and trimming transportation, police and benefits spending, a strategy district leaders say narrows this year’s gap but does not fix long‑term funding shortfalls driven by enrollment declines and stagnant state per‑student funding.