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Richardson ISD cites $37 million shortfall and will return to traditional secondary schedule to save about $11 million
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Summary
Richardson ISD announced a $37,000,000 budget deficit, confirmed $25,700,000 in planned expenditure reductions and said reverting to a pre-pandemic traditional secondary schedule should yield roughly $11,000,000 in savings to help protect teacher pay and the district’s finances.
Richardson ISD told staff it is confronting a $37,000,000 budget shortfall and will return secondary schools to the traditional, daily schedule used before the pandemic, a change district leaders said will generate about $11,000,000 in savings.
The Presenter, speaking on behalf of the district, said recent decisions will cut expenditures by $25,700,000 for the next school year and pledged the board and cabinet will continue to prioritize student learning and competitive pay for teachers. "The recent decisions to reduce expenditures by 25,700,000 for next school year have not been easy," the Presenter said.
Why it matters: district leaders said the combination of planned cuts and schedule changes is intended to close the larger $37,000,000 gap while preserving funds for teacher compensation. The Presenter said the district will "consider a raise for the 2026–27 school year" and that more details for employees will be shared soon.
The Presenter framed the schedule change as a difficult but necessary efficiency: "One of the most significant changes will be a return to the traditional secondary schedule used prior to the pandemic," the Presenter said, noting that while block schedules have benefits for science and career and technical education, daily instruction can provide steadier learning in subjects such as math and fine arts. "This shift will generate approximately $11,000,000 in savings," the Presenter added.
District leaders acknowledged that the cuts have an immediate human effect. "These reductions, especially those impacting staff, have been made with a heavy heart," the Presenter said, emphasizing support for employees affected by the changes.
Next steps: the Presenter said the board, cabinet team and district leadership will provide additional information to staff in the coming weeks, and that the district will continue to focus on maintaining financial stability while supporting teachers and students.
The presenter closed by reiterating the district's North Star goal of growing "every student and every teacher" and said the administration will work to implement changes with support for affected staff.
