Keller ISD will cut $9.4 million from its budget, citing stagnant state funding.
KELLER, Texas — The day before lawmakers were set to debate school funding on the House floor, one North Texas school district announced it would make significant budget cuts due to state funding shortfalls.
Keller ISD needs to reduce next year’s budget by $9.4 million while making room for a 1% pay increase for staff, the district said in a letter to parents.
“While we acknowledge this increase is not enough, it reflects our continued commitment to supporting our educators,” the letter states.
The district cited stagnant state funding as the source of the shortfall.
“The lack of action by the state, including no increase to the basic allotment since 2019, combined with numerous unfunded mandates, has resulted in significant consequences for our district and will continue to do so until the state meets its constitutional obligation to Texas students,” the letter reads.
The district is still in the process of identifying potential cuts, the letter states. However, the district has identified $10.8 million in potential cuts. Possible savings include:
- $3.5 million in campus-level staff reductions
- $1.6 million in district-level administrative reductions
- $1.1 million by moving programming from ELC North and ELC South to elementary schools, saving $1.1 million
- $2.1 million on district-wide programming efficiencies
- $800,000 by closing the KISD employee health and wellness center
- $900,000 from reducing transportation routes
- $800,000 on department budget reductions
The district also announced it will cancel its April board meeting to allow staff more time to prepare for several board meetings in May as the district prepares to finalize its budget. Staff expect to present the proposed 2025-2026 budget to the Keller ISD Board of Trustees in June, the letter states.
