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Kennedale ISD budget workshop: deficit narrows; board debates salary freeze, drug testing and childcare cuts; approves computers
Summary
District staff reported the current-year deficit improved to about $718,000 after revenue adjustments, proposed a preliminary balanced 2026-27 M&O plan that includes a salary freeze and absorbed positions, and fielded debate over cutting the student drug-testing program, Monday childcare, and the $500 employee holiday stipend. The board approved 60 desktop computers for the junior high.
Kennedale Independent School District leaders presented a budget update and the board discussed a package of potential savings and revenue options for the 2025-26 closeout and the preliminary 2026-27 maintenance and operations plan.
Budget presenter Katie said a recent amendment increased revenue by about $910,000 (including increased prior-year tax collections, oil-and-gas receipts, federal carryover and indirect cost recoveries). With state funding updates and other adjustments, staff estimated the current-year deficit would fall to roughly $718,000; Katie also said a pending land-easement payment from the City of Arlington of about $206,000 would reduce the shortfall further if finalized.
Why it matters: the board is considering personnel and program decisions that affect employees, student services and community programming while attempting to rebalance the district’s finances.
For the 2026-27 preliminary plan, staff proposed revenue and program strategies — expanding the Wildcat Collegiate Academy, adding preK3 and preK4 seats, and launching a district virtual platform to recover students who left for outside virtual providers. Staff said state per-student funding estimates were increasing in the preliminary numbers presented.
On the expenditure side, staff described actions already taken and options under consideration to reduce costs: absorption of about 19 positions (roughly $1.3 million), a temporary salary freeze, reductions to contracted services, and reconfiguration of coaching stipends to align stipend counts to actual teams. Several line items were flagged for board decisions: the district’s student drug-testing program (annual cost roughly $25,000 plus stipends for coaches), preK door-to-door transportation (estimated savings about $100,000 if eliminated), and the $500 holiday stipend (estimated at roughly $250,000 districtwide) that board members discussed as discretionary given current fiscal pressures.
Board members debated the drug-testing policy in detail. Some members suggested removing predictable summer testing and keeping random testing during the season; staff said they would review testing data and vendor contract terms and bring policy options back for further discussion. On Monday childcare tied to the district’s hybrid calendar, staff said attendance has stabilized near 120 participants; staff are exploring partnerships and other offsets to reduce the program’s net cost.
During the meeting the board took one routine action: it approved the purchase of 60 Dell desktop computers for Kennedale Junior High computer labs to support Windows-based instructional needs. The motion to approve was made by Mr. Serta, seconded by Miss Debbie Via Gomez, and passed unanimously.
Staff emphasized the work is preliminary; they will return with more precise revenue projections, contract details for drug testing, and options for Monday childcare, transportation and stipend targeting as the district approaches certified property values late this summer.
