SAN FELIPE-DEL RIO CISD reviews 2026 draft budget; staff recommends targeted cuts including proposed 40% reduction in critical needs aides

SAN FELIPE-DEL RIO CISD — At a June 2 special budget workshop, district staff presented an interactive 2026‑27 budget workbook that models a 2% midpoint pay increase and a set of proposed savings intended to reduce a projected $1,465,883 deficit.

Miss Childris, who led the presentation, said the board packet includes three pay scenarios but that the 2% midpoint increase was used for this meeting’s modeling: “For the purpose of this evening's presentation at this time we have selected the 2% increase with the cost of the 1.9 million,” she said. The workbook also shows 3% and 4% alternatives.

The presentation grouped personnel and program options that together produce more than $1.6 million in potential savings under the workbook assumptions. Key staff recommendations included deleting a curriculum and instruction director position (salary and benefits listed in the workbook as a savings item), eliminating several positions tied to middle‑school reorganization (about $500,000), converting a math curriculum coordinator to a grant‑funded role (about $45,739 in savings), and increasing athletic stipends in two alternate scenarios (50% = $76,112; 100% = $152,223).

The most significant contested recommendation was a proposed reduction in critical needs aides (CNAs). Staff recommended reducing CNAs by about 40%—an estimated 24 positions—producing an estimated savings of $781,500. Childris said the district currently lists 59 CNA positions and will provide trustees with a breakdown of vacancies and how many aides serve students full time: “I currently have 59 positions,” she said.

Childris and board members discussed legal and operational limits. She said the board’s attorney advised CNAs do not always need to be dedicated full‑time for a student and that some duties are intermittent, which is why the district believes it can legally pursue a reduction in hours or positions while following AR/IEP procedures. Trustees asked whether reductions would occur by attrition or layoffs; staff said CNAs are often year‑to‑year contract positions and that the district would provide additional data to inform any personnel decisions.

Staff also outlined other savings options selected in the workbook: deferring some employee travel ($160,697 potential savings), reducing certain student overnight travel ($21,321), cutting library book funding from $6 to $3 per student ($29,538), reducing the number of students randomly drug‑tested (from about 550 to 250; $47,185 savings), removing a $45,000 strategic planning consultant line, and trimming gifted‑and‑talent testing consultants ($22,324) and extra‑duty GT refreshers ($30,000). Selected items in the workbook produced $174,047 in those targeted savings and, combined with personnel choices, about $1,462,258 in labor‑related savings as presented.

Staff presented facility/technology project lists (HVAC, fire alarms, fencing, gym floors, IT refresh, E‑rate contributions) totaling several million dollars; none of those projects were entered into the workbook for the purpose of this presentation.

On special‑education funding, staff noted an emerging state tiered funding structure for special education and said the district is pursuing grant support to apply for tiers. Staff framed tier funding as a potential reason to postpone CNA reductions until funding outcomes are known: if tier revenue increases materially, the board could delay implementation and reassess next year.

Next steps: staff said the proposed budget will be posted Monday, June 8, and that the board expects to adopt the budget on June 25. Trustees were asked to submit workbook changes by noon Friday to inform the proposed posting.

The workshop adjourned and the meeting continued to the next agenda item.