AUSTIN, Texas — As Central Texas’ largest school district faces a $110 million budget deficit, there’s now an idea on the table to consolidate some Austin ISD schools.
The proposal is part of a spending audit conducted by Gibson Consulting. At the Austin ISD board meeting Thursday night, analysts with the firm told board members that the district could save $43 million in the long-term if they consolidate some campuses.
Austin ISD leaders said the audit didn’t focus on specific schools, so a lot more work would be required before any decisions are made.
“I think it identifies opportunities of exploration and maybe even a magnitude of opportunity, but requires a lot more work to get it to something that’s possible,” Superintendent Matias Segura said.
Trustee Kevin Foster (District 3) cautioned that there is need for more nuanced investigation.
“Yes, we want to be more efficient, but we don’t want to be – and can’t afford to be – less effective,” Foster said.
The audit also identified up to nearly $18 million in short-term spending solutions by optimizing scheduling or reducing senior management positions.
The district typically presents its preliminary annual budget to board members in April, and trustees have to adopt a budget by the end of June.