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Northside board hears $96M budget shortfall warning; trustees approve budget amendment and consent items amid hiring freeze
Summary
District leaders outlined a projected $96 million shortfall and asked departments to identify reductions; trustees approved a budget amendment recognizing SHARS revenue declines and child nutrition adjustments and passed the consent agenda.
Superintendent Dr. Kristopher Kraft and senior staff warned trustees the district must plan for substantial budget reductions unless the state provides unexpected new funding. Staff described a projected fiscal-year 2026 operating gap the superintendent quantified at roughly $96 million and outlined near-term mitigation steps including a hiring freeze for non‑critical positions, a district charge for departments to develop reduction scenarios (including a 10 percent planning target), review of prior ESSER‑funded positions and projects, and exploration of changes to staffing ratios.
Kraft said the district’s top objective is to preserve jobs for current employees and to protect classroom programming; at the same…
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