Parents, students urge McKinney ISD to preserve elementary GT program as district warns $23 million shortfall

Dozens of students, parents and teachers urged the McKinney Independent School District Board of Trustees on March 31 to preserve the district's elementary gifted-and-talented (Alpha/GT) program as administrators outlined a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

At the meeting Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Dennis Womack told the board the district faces a projected $23 million deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year if no changes are made. "If we just incur the same expenses that we have currently and do nothing, we're looking at about a $23,000,000 deficit," Womack said during a financial update to the board.

Why it matters: McKinney ISD leaders say the shortfall stems from a mix of stagnant state funding, falling federal allocations and locally collected property tax revenue that is subject to state recapture. Parents and students said proposed reductions to the Alpha/GT elementary program ' which district staff presented as one line among several cost-saving proposals ' would remove services that many families and teachers say are essential for high-ability and twice-exceptional learners.

Students and parents gave emotional testimony during the meeting's public-comment period,…