Hello Friends,
We begin this newsletter recognizing the loss and heartbreak our families and communities are dealing with at this moment due to the floods. At times like this, we’re here to provide support and resources to help navigate loss and uncertainty. You may also access counseling services through our Employee Assistance Program resources at any time.
Let’s get started…
AISD Help is now available for general questions and concerns now that we’ve officially transitioned away from Let’s Talk.
How it works: Staff, families and trustees will submit questions through the AISD Help tile in the Austin ISD portal, while community members without portal access can use a webform on the district website.
The webform experience will mimic the current Let’s Talk setup with buttons for various categories; however, AISD Help does not have a text feature.
Speak up will soon replace the current anonymous tips linked at the top of our Austin ISD website. Messages will be fielded in the same manner as Gaggle monitoring with a crisis response team reviewing messages and any messages with concerning key words will be routed automatically to our 24-hour Austin ISD Police Dispatch.
What’s next: Beginning August 2025 Safe Space will be available for anonymous reporting to provide a confidential way for students and families to report bullying, harassment, or other personal crises.
House Bill 1481 was passed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session and signed into law by Governor Abbott, bringing a new statewide policy to schools that prohibits students from using personal electronics, including cell phones, during the school day beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
The details: We’re still waiting on the official guidelines from the Texas Education Agency, but in the meantime, district leaders are working hard behind the scenes to update board policy to align with this new law.
What we’re hearing: Over the spring semester, we surveyed focus groups of students, families, and staff.
The feedback was loud and clear. With thoughtful planning and clear communication, this policy has the potential to boost focus in class, build stronger peer connections, and create a more engaging learning environment.
What’s next: We’ll continue sharing updates as we get closer to the new school year, and as policies are finalized.
After significant cost reductions districtwide throughout the year, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees approved the 2025–26 budget with a $19.7 million deficit, — a steep reduction from the prior year adopted deficit.
The details: This budget includes $ 1.63 billion in revenue, including $715.5 million in recapture and $939 million in operating expenses.
The new budget assumes $55 million in new revenue sources, including land sales and an estimated $9 million in new state funding from House Bill 2.
The latest cost-cutting measures included a more than 20% reduction in the central office staff, totaling $9.6 million in savings.
School improvement support is also included with an additional $8 million in funding.
Background: The road to this budget has been long and challenging. In June 2024, the board adopted a budget with a multi-million dollar deficit. A month later, projected property tax revenues came in lower than expected, increasing the shortfall by another $14 million– bringing the total to $92 million deficit.
By January of 2025, the projected deficit had grown to $110 million, due to additional funding for Special Education and other services, as well as the loss of SHARS revenue.
In March 2025, Austin ISD was able to reduce the deficit by an additional $9 million by implementing a hiring freeze and optimizing expenditure management strategies.
We’re closing the year with a projected $90 million deficit that will be absorbed through our fund balance, or savings account.
On that note: With multi-year deficit budgets, our fund balance will now be below the 20% minimum required by board policy. To ensure a sustainable way to get back to 20%, the board also approved the updated fund balance policy to allow for a minimum fund balance of 15% for the 2025-26 school year and restore it to 20% by June 2028.
Looking Ahead: Austin ISD plans to bring an amended budget to the board in September once more is known about the rules tied to House Bill 2, which includes pay increases for campus-based staff. District leaders will work with Education Austin to finalize the compensation plan.
Stay tuned as we continue working toward a balanced budget.
Step into a world of pure imagination this summer as the Austin ISD's Fine Arts Department proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Summer Theatre Series (STS) with a spectacular production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the musical), with show dates running July 24 – July 27, 2025, at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory | Austin ISD Summer Theatre Series - July 24 to 27
Summer Graduation Ceremony - Aug. 8
New Teacher Orientation - Aug. 4-6
First Day of Classes - Aug. 19
For more calendar events visit Austin ISD Calendar of Events.
Interested in volunteering at Austin ISD? Applications open July 14!
Austin ISD celebrates 10 years of summer theater series- FOX
AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD
Board Bulletin: Board hears more on school consolidation process, approves budget and turnaround plans - Austin ISD
We are officially six weeks away from the beginning of the new school year! Time flies!
Don’t forget: Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is open, and Austin ISD is hosting Summer Enrollment Hours! Stop by Central Office between June 9 and July 24 for in-person assistance with enrollment. Ready to enroll? Visit austinisd.org/enroll to find everything you need to get started!
-JJ
Have a story idea? Share it with us! https://www.austinisd.org/communications/request-services/story
For questions or comments you may email me at jorge.maldonado@austinisd.org
For languages other than English and Spanish, we use an AI-powered translation tool. As a result, there may be some contextual inaccuracies or other errors. We apologize for this. Please email translation@austinisd.org if you are in need of clarification. To change your preferred correspondence language, contact your school's front office.