Judson ISD board reviews $10M‑$13M in proposed cuts, discusses school closures and JECCA

Judson ISD trustees on Tuesday reviewed updated budget forecasts that show a multi‑million dollar shortfall for the 2024‑25 and proposed 2025‑26 fiscal years and discussed a menu of proposed cuts and revenue options, including a voter‑ratification tax election, possible campus closures and program reductions.

The district’s finance presenter told trustees: "The forecast for total revenue at the June of this year is 252,700,000.0, and expenditures are expected to end at $272,000,000, giving us a deficit of 19,200,000.0," and said the district’s base‑budget scenario for next year would produce a deeper shortfall and lower fund balance.

That shortfall and declining fund balance — staff said the district could face a base‑budget deficit that would reduce fund balance to roughly $36.2 million by June 2026 under current assumptions — led administrators to present roughly $18 million in possible local‑fund reductions. Board members and staff narrowed the conversation toward a working target of about $10 million in cuts needed to keep the district near about 60 days of operating expenses; earlier meetings had sought $13 million in reductions.

Why it matters: The board and staff described proposals that, if adopted, would affect staffing, campus operations and programs across the district and could change travel times and services for students and families. Staff emphasized many figures are approximate and that some options would require months of planning before any change would occur.

What staff presented and what trustees discussed

- Revenue and reserves: Staff said the current‑year revenue forecast is about $252.7 million with expenditures near $272 million, producing a roughly $19.2 million gap. In a base‑budget scenario that assumes certain temporary disaster relief pennies expire, staff projected revenue of about $233.2 million and expenditures of $279.2 million, leaving a projected deficit near $45.9 million and a June 2026 fund balance near $36.2 million.

- Voter ratification election ("VADER"): Staff told the board a voter ratification election to keep the current tax rate would yield an estimated $12.4 million in additional revenue if voters approved keeping the tax rate unchanged, and the district plans to present an engagement letter for an efficiency audit after May 31 and move toward a November election timeline if the board chooses to pursue that option.

- Menu of possible local cuts: Staff presented a list of specific proposals totaling about $18 million in potential local reductions. Estimates shown to the board included: roughly $1.3 million from administrative/compensation adjustments tied to vacancies, about $600,000 from trimming three calendar days from employees on a 226‑day schedule (roughly $198,000 per day including benefits), about $1.7 million from closing a middle school (estimated savings focused on administration and office staff), about $850,000 from closing one elementary campus (office staff savings), roughly $3.27 million in operating cost for JECCA (the early college campus), $4.196 million tied to the district’s stipend plan, and smaller savings from program restructures such as a proposed GT restructure (about $750,000) and reductions in counselor staffing at secondary campuses (approximately $300,000–$375,000).

- Student‑teacher ratios and staffing: Staff showed a scenario that would raise class sizes (elementary from 21 to 23, middle from 23 to 25 and high school from 24 to 26), which staff estimated could reduce roughly 25 teacher positions and yield about $1.875 million; similar reductions among paraprofessionals and auxiliaries could add roughly $1.875 million more, for an estimated combined savings near $2.6 million.

- District of Innovation (DOI) teachers: Staff proposed reducing the year‑zero DOI teacher salary by about 10% (from roughly $60,009 to about $54,840) and offering staged incentives in subsequent years to encourage certification. Staff estimated this approach could save about $1 million; trustees discussed alternative, smaller reductions tied to phased incentives.

- JECCA (early college campus): A member of the public spoke in favor of preserving JECCA and urged trustees to seek ways to fund it. Public commenter Donetta Roberts said, “This JECCA is so important, just like all of your schools are, but JECCA allows these kids to thrive in a different manner where they may not be able to thrive at one of your large high schools.” Staff noted JECCA operates under a lease (reported as $10 per year in the presentation) and that an earlier agreement with Alamo Community College (referenced as a February 2017 agreement) included facility and construction responsibilities; staff cautioned that removing the early‑college program could affect that lease and the campus’s future use.

Trustee views and procedural points

Board members expressed a range of positions and cautions. Several trustees objected to measures that would cut employee pay directly, including multiple objections to a three‑day calendar reduction for 226‑day employees. Trustees also repeatedly emphasized the tradeoffs between preserving fund balance and protecting classroom services: “That is priority for us,” one board member said, urging preservation of instructional positions even while acknowledging the district faces a significant funding shortfall.

On the possibility of closing a middle school, staff asked for board consensus to continue planning detailed logistics (student reassignment, transportation rerouting and boundary redraws). After discussion, the presiding officer said, “So I’m hearing that there’s enough support to move forward with planning this,” and staff indicated they would proceed with planning and community notification work if the board wants that option kept on the table. Trustees emphasized any closure would require months of advance work and that any final decision would come later.

Staff also said they plan to recommend an efficiency‑audit firm (labeled in the presentation as Moe Casey) to conduct peer reviews and an audit should the board authorize engagement and pursue the voter ratification election timeline.

Formal action: No votes taken

At the meeting’s return from closed session, the presiding officer told the board: "No final action, decision, or vote was taken while the board was in closed session." Staff framed most items as options and sought guidance or consensus on whether to continue planning; trustees gave mixed, nonbinding direction on several items but did not adopt formal motions or enact policy changes at the meeting.

Next steps

Staff reiterated the budget calendar: the district will continue budget workshops through June with a planned adoption later in the month and certification of values in July. Staff said they will update the board as legislative and state funding information becomes available and, if directed, will proceed with planning work on options that trustees asked to remain on the menu for further consideration.

The board adjourned the special meeting at 10:30 p.m.