Austin ISD Board of Trustees Regular Voting Meeting: May 21, 2026

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees held a regular voting meeting on May 21, 2026, primarily focused on budgetary challenges and staffing decisions for the upcoming school year. The meeting included extensive public testimony, with many speakers addressing concerns about proposed budget cuts affecting staffing, planning time, and critical programs such as Communities in Schools (CIS) and special education services. The board discussed a significant budget deficit of approximately $177 million, with identified reductions totaling about $130 million and additional potential cuts under consideration. Key topics included the impact of staffing reductions on classroom instruction, the proposed seven out of eight teaching schedules, and the importance of preserving stipends for bilingual and special education staff to maintain compliance and federal funding. The board also reviewed audit reports related to special education legal expenditures and federal program compliance. A notable action was the approval of agenda item 14.1, involving the termination of a professional employee, despite public support for the individual. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue refining the budget and staffing plans, emphasizing transparency and community engagement amid difficult financial constraints.