At a special meeting of the Judson Independent School District Board of Trustees, local parents, teachers and librarians urged the board to preserve certified librarians, gifted-and-talented (GT) staff and academic enrichment services while the district considers budget reductions for the 2025–26 school year.

The public-comment portion of the meeting drew many speakers who said cuts to library services and enrichment would harm student literacy and classroom outcomes. Sarah Mills, a librarian at Fran’s Leadership Academy, told trustees, “Librarians also focus on helping students become responsible, respectful, and safe citizens of both our physical community and the digital world.”

Teachers, parents and enrichment staff recounted examples of student benefits tied to library and enrichment programs. John Ramirez, an academic-enrichment teacher at Rolling Meadows, said the enrichment program reaches all students and warned of enrollment loss and reduced competitiveness if it were reduced: “Enrichment and GT go hand in hand. It’s peas and carrots.” Several speakers gave personal examples of students who have thrived under current services.

Other commenters pressed the board on teacher-contract issues and the district’s handling of alternative-certification teachers (DOI). Jo (Joe) Powers, a district teacher and doctoral candidate who addressed the board, said the district’s staffing decisions affect long-term student outcomes and framed librarians as a priority: “A librarian at every campus is non negotiable.”

Board members and staff said they have heard the same concerns and are collecting recommendations and cost options. Trustees and cabinet members emphasized that no final personnel decisions had been made and that many of the budget options discussed remain under study. Superintendent Paula Fields and finance staff outlined that some program changes under consideration would use attrition rather than immediate layoffs when possible.

The budget workshop continues and the board asked staff to return with additional costed scenarios and implementation details at follow-up budget meetings ahead of final budget adoption.