Richardson ISD proposes $25.7 million in budget cuts and 38 FTE reductions for 2026-27
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Summary
Superintendent Branham told the board the district faces a structural deficit and proposed $25.7 million in reductions, including a 13% cut to central office discretionary budgets and 38 full-time-equivalent (FTE) position reductions; trustees praised staff but pressed for protecting classroom supports and said the district must press Austin for more funding.
Superintendent Branham presented the districtbudget outlook for 2026-27, warning that enrollment declines and statewide funding decisions leave the district with a structural shortfall. "If you look at a $37,000,000 deficit budget," Branham said, "...if we wanted to provide any type of increase of compensation, you are looking towards a $50,000,000 deficit budget." She outlined specific savings measures and next steps.
Branham said the board would recommend reductions that total approximately $25,708,000 but would not eliminate the deficit. Among the proposals: a 13% reduction in central office discretionary budgets (including a $250,000 elimination of travel and food line items), a review and reduction of stipends and contracted services, new expectations that community groups using facilities pay custodial fees, and a review of software and overtime. She said the district has lost about 2,757 students, which contributed to a more than $20 million revenue shortfall.
Branham also described operational and staffing changes intended to align personnel with enrollment and capture savings: "There will be 38 full time equivalent positions that will be cut for 26,27," she said, adding that some cuts are from vacancies while others affect filled roles. She emphasized that affected employees who are in good standing will have opportunities to be placed elsewhere in the district, that human resources will work individually with staff, and that a communication plan and change-management supports would begin next week.
On scheduling, district leaders said moving from the double-block model toward a traditional 7- or 8-period day would generate savings over time, particularly in secondary athletics and staffing. Branham described the reductions as the result of a year-long review that included a community budget steering committee and benchmarking with peer districts.
Trustees expressed gratitude and concern. Trustee Megan Timmy and Trustee Rachel McGowan thanked staff for transparency and asked that the board keep the "North Star" focus on students and teachers. Trustee Eric Eager urged stronger state-level advocacy, calling multi-year funding changes insufficient and urging public action; "We waited six years for our state to fund public education, and we got $55," he said, arguing the district cannot sustain recurring raises without more state support. Trustee Regina Harris praised staff clarity and encouraged community engagement.
Next steps: the board will consider the proposals as an information item, hold a workshop on compensation at the next meeting to explore tradeoffs, continue cabinet work on detailed implementation, and begin individual outreach to impacted employees. Branham said the reductions would lessen but not erase the deficit, and that further work would be required pending legislative changes in Austin.
The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken tonight.
