[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6247440,"mediaKeyId","3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661","parentId",3212945,"title","CFISD projects $50.1 million operating shortfall; superintendent presses legislators for homestead-exemption funding","audioSeconds",1541,"startMs",6649000,"endMs",8190000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661&start=6649&end=8190","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661/thumbnail_6649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6247440/Texas/CFISD-projects-501-million-operating-shortfall-superintendent-presses-legislators-for-homestead-exemption-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247440-a0f7bb1ccfbab459830439bfce20bd15/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611191&Signature=boNPie6BUM43porN3UvKNu~svDY0KfPjJsbPU9Xu7WzXs~aHbIjXy4IxEiQWGVKU9TTWM5egesAYw1Etq9hP5jmgoQSOpizVCc4YRDW6xmosAMdfxY44Asmm8n3M9eBIYNa5~796yAKD6e-DTsm~nmQ0k3ylVuZSZ-UihTuyw2GwLYJgWEP2cxLE9YuBgUcbKhhTHVi1j7ULDaiQDi3aNHWQTOBWgixbYiTiEblmPvTjgBmO7VGpWC9~pN1qv29AE8bVZ0j3Rx9TJIK9IEH5WBZJykxMyeiR~EIbbqgnURBONsId7Eq-dYGUmCkWheF6z4WzqjRQpZBKkhRYN224BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cypress-Fairbanks ISD","date","2025-05-07T16:40:09.907Z","article","CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD projected a $50,100,000 shortfall for the 2025–26 general operating budget and told trustees the district will need to pursue state funding options to avoid deeper cuts.

Superintendent Doctor Killian and Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith presented the operating-budget update during the board’s May 5 meeting, citing declines in enrollment and average daily attendance, tax-rate compression and the district’s local optional homestead exemption as primary drivers of lower revenue. “It is estimated without any additional funding that we will have a deficit of 50,100,000.0 in 20 25, 20 26,” Karen Smith said during the presentation.

The nut graf: the projected deficit, if not offset by state legislative action or local adjustments, would reduce the district’s ability to maintain current staff levels, programs and competitive pay. Administrators and trustees focused their remarks on three levers that could change the picture: (1) pending state legislation and supplemental appropriations, (2) use of fund balance as a multiyear bridge and (3) targeted local decisions to hold or reduce nonessential spending.

Administrators provided supporting details and context. Smith said CFISD’s preliminary 2025 certified property values reported by the appraisal district are roughly $76.7 billion (preliminary as of April 30) and noted that the district’s offer of a local optional homestead exemption reduced M&O property tax revenue by an estimated $63,000,000 in tax year 2024. The district’s average daily attendance was reported at about 93.56 percent (down from pre-pandemic levels), which Smith said translates to an almost $15,000,000 swing in state funding. Smith also described that payroll accounts for roughly 85–90 percent of general-fund expenditures and that teacher salaries are a major part of fixed costs.

Doctor Killian described a multi-pronged advocacy campaign in Austin designed to secure partial state funding for districts that offer a local homestead exemption. He said staff drafted amendment language for House Bill 2 that would have funded the LOHE at 60 percent and that district representatives, students and local legislators pressed for inclusion during floor activity. “Representative Scofield entertained an idea of mine to get an amendment on House Bill 2,” Killian said, and he described meetings with staffers in both the lieutenant governor’s and the governor’s offices to explore alternative vehicles, including the supplemental House Bill 500 and a staggered, second-year effective date to limit fiscal impact to the state budget.

Trustees and district officials emphasized the limits of available funding. Karen Smith showed comparative charts indicating CFISD receives less revenue per pupil than neighboring districts and explained that bond and food-service funds are restricted and cannot be used to backfill general operations. Trustees said they want clearer answers on efficiency and where cuts would fall if state aid does not materialize. Trustee Julie Heinemann urged the district to commission a “deep efficiency audit” and recommended that community members submit specific questions about perceived waste so staff can respond with data.

Administrators and board members also detailed contingency planning. Smith projected that, using planned reductions and one-time resources, the district would have about 4.94 months of fund balance at June 30, 2026, and roughly 4.43 months at June 30, 2027, under current-law assumptions (no raises included). The board scheduled a special called budget workshop for May 22, 2025, to review priorities and next steps if additional state funding does not appear.

The presentation also summarized personnel-related programs tied to funding: staff reported 1,048 teachers had earned a teacher-designation under the Teacher Incentive Allotment and that roughly 1,094 teachers would receive state payments when amounts are finalized; administrators said decisions on raises were not yet included in the draft budget because the legislature had not adopted final school finance levels.

Ending: Trustees urged parents and community members to contact state legislators while the session remains open. District officials said they would provide updated fiscal scenarios at the May 22 budget workshop and that any major staffing or program changes would be brought to future public board meetings for action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Board Meeting | May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD projected a $50,100,000 shortfall for the 2025–26 general operating budget and told trustees the district will need to pursue state funding options to avoid deeper cuts.","taxTitle","CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14109,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6247430,"Brandy Breaux named principal at Hamilton Elementary",185,1011000,1196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661&start=1011&end=1196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661/thumbnail_1011000.jpg","/articles/6247430/Texas/Brandy-Breaux-named-principal-at-Hamilton-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247430-cc4b9cfa6b46b8796958648e41135bfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611191&Signature=KmtUZDkPdr~R-9r3XGXLJuAQwaHO~qxtdNill2U99tx1e~Qn4EMrf5ayj5s~OSoMMeI5m5eAptNthM0U7qQwDGV7z7PN5U7Ei0NyXpfKBpHmuQ3f1YR8j75rMBfgpTfBN3B7MGujC8nNNEQl0Di0iWiDefdWnvKGtqQFdFrJJ3JhE0zGPsSpnmDrfkcElGVtClCd-47ms89FyvYS-phutBHOBtsqWqt~7nQ43LPWOfIP4bUecokztoqvfcpZQQFPKNu-1FmMlcs-4BVAxGY-SMXgCYyA-ZIWyInUscNWVlhHP~AC6uaEAmxiw2IIqneZHbmHQN2UuKP1wlaOML7kDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD formally announced the appointment of Brandy Breaux as principal of Hamilton Elementary during the May 5 board meeting.

Christine Cole introduced Breaux and summarized her background, noting 25 years in education including roles as classroom teacher and assistant principal in multiple districts and her degrees from Louisiana State University and Nicholls State University. Brandy Breaux addressed the board and attendees, thanking district leaders and mentors and pledging to build on the foundation at Hamilton Elementary.

Nut graf: the appointment is an internal personnel selection presented as an administrative placement; the district introduced the new principal in public remarks but did not take a separate recorded vote during the meeting.

Breaux said she joined CFISD in 2015 and described prior assignments including teacher at Pope Elementary and assistant principal roles. She thanked family members and professional mentors in her remarks and pledged partnership with staff, students and families at Hamilton Elementary.

Ending: The board and audience joined in congratulating the new principal; the appointment was presented as an official district selection with subsequent campus-level transition activities to follow.","CFISD announced the selection of Brandy Breaux as principal of Hamilton Elementary; district leaders introduced her at the board meeting and she addressed trustees and attendees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6247435,"Parents urge CFISD to restore bus routes after 15 students struck; district restored 16 routes impacting 1,171 students",0,6020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661&start=6020&end=6020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212945-4519f0e9b2666601a56e0cb05aae9661/thumbnail_6020000.jpg","/articles/6247435/Texas/Parents-urge-CFISD-to-restore-bus-routes-after-15-students-struck-district-restored-16-routes-impacting-1171-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247435-04bde0b09f4c6fb42edfea8b2abd1869/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611191&Signature=K7KGc2Y4HVm7D99RlcxgS5WUrQcvgDtAM0zig2M7dzTtAN~D2x5-7SP328BN2S~NbnR7pv9LEeDBxdL8Vqpc6BIpEYhdWGVsTVA9DHxtde2kHaKMdIqZOnNYGVEqf0sSOjwnIpTW3IKBp1dypsaIGsVoA26kbahCT22DJ68lPyB-nwiRlBU661NTT-4l4W-lDYdjGO3lbUubQ74Ko5QEgS184K4j4WkO2BXV2vSBQ1eN0NM31PJz5Fv0HnY2ETa4K4~t6jxaCqxgVtylB~IRMMfIBVonJNEJWOdN3Tcw7QKXspiciGE3GItAQBU4DdEsMK9lbaEK-6yRW-pcF1JdOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents and community members told the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees that changes to bus service after route reductions have left some children walking along busy roads and at risk of collisions.

At the May 5 meeting, public commenters said at least 15 children in the district had been struck by vehicles this calendar year. “Children need to go to school safely,” said a parent speaker, noting several recent incidents and urging the board to restore more routes and align CFISD policy with neighboring districts.

The nut graf: the transportation discussion combined public safety concerns from speakers with board and staff updates that steps are underway to restore service while the district confronts driver shortages and operating-cost pressures.

Trustees and staff described recent reinstatements and driver-recruitment progress. A board member reported that as of April 17 the district had 12 driver vacancies; 14 drivers had completed training and selected routes, 44 more were in training, and on April 28 transportation services were reinstated to select areas—adding 16 routes and providing service for about 1,171 students. Trustees said the administration will continue to pursue additional route reinstatements while recruiting drivers and evaluating safety priorities.

Public commenters pointed to specific road hazards, naming Fry Road as a location where middle- and high-school students must cross four lanes at non-school-zone speeds. Commenters asked the board to consider policies used by neighboring districts (for example, Tomball ISD, Klein ISD and Katy ISD were mentioned) when setting route thresholds and safety standards.

Ending: Trustees and staff said they will continue to prioritize route reinstatements and driver hiring; staff promised follow-up data on route decisions and third-party pool and facility use requests that intersect with transportation planning.","Multiple speakers told the board that at least 15 CFISD students have been struck by cars this year. Trustees and staff described steps taken to reinstate 16 bus routes and add capacity as driver recruitment continues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CFISD projects $50.1 million operating shortfall; superintendent presses legislators for homestead-exemption funding

Brandy Breaux named principal at Hamilton Elementary

Parents urge CFISD to restore bus routes after 15 students struck; district restored 16 routes impacting 1,171 students