SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio ISD leaders say they have identified $19.3 million in budget reductions as the district works to close a projected structural deficit of about $45.9 million.
In a budget workshop Monday night, district administration told the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Board of Trustees the reductions identified so far are aimed at cutting the deficit roughly in half in the 2026-27 budget. The district outlined the update in information released March 16, 2026.
“We continue to work toward finding additional opportunities for reductions,” Superintendent Jaime Aquino said. “This is not a new challenge. We have been responsibly managing declining revenues and rising costs for several years.”
SAISD said it has made consecutive budget reductions over the past four years totaling nearly $46 million, including the elimination of 352 positions. District leaders said the proposed 2026-27 budget would be the largest single-year reduction in the last five years.
District officials said they are using a student-centered approach intended to minimize impacts on classrooms, including eliminating vacancies not directly tied to student outcomes, essential student support or critical services; prioritizing the least disruptive reductions; reviewing contracted services for possible reductions; redirecting resources to Priority Schools; and offering early financial incentives to eligible staff to reduce the need for involuntary reductions.
More than half of the reductions identified so far — $10.2 million — are at the central office level, the district said.
Districtwide, SAISD said the proposed 2026-27 budget includes reductions to 224 full-time equivalent positions, though many of those positions are already vacant. The district said central office reductions represent nearly 11% of the total central office budget, while reductions to campus budgets represent about 2% of total campus budgets.
“These reductions have required discipline, difficult decisions, and a deep commitment to prioritizing students,” Aquino said. “We are proposing a budget for consideration by the Board that is aligned to our values, advances the district toward financial sustainability and Board goal attainment, and focused on improved learning for our students.”
SAISD also said several uncertainties could still affect budget projections, including the potential impact of vouchers and continued enrollment declines.
Despite the financial challenges, the district reported academic gains over the past four years, including attendance, reading and college readiness improvements. SAISD said its attendance rate has climbed more than three percentage points, reaching about 91.14% cumulatively as of March 5.
The district also reported that college enrollment is at an all-time high, with 58% of the Class of 2024 enrolling within a year of high school graduation. SAISD said that figure surpasses nationwide benchmarks for high-poverty schools and high-minority schools, which the district said have seen declines in college enrollment over the past four years.
On state assessments, SAISD said third- through eighth-grade reading scores are 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Looking ahead, district leaders said SAISD is already planning for the 2027-28 budget cycle with the goal of eliminating the structural deficit while continuing to prioritize classroom investments.