Judson school district cuts 536 jobs, moves toward balanced budget

Judson Independent School District is poised to adopt a balanced budget after trustees voted 6-1 Tuesday to eliminate 536 positions next school year. The vote comes after the school board's decision to close four campuses in the fall, marking a major step toward closing a projected $35 million shortfall.

Trustees are expected to vote on a final budget in the coming months. The budget must be approved by the end of the fiscal year June 30.

"We are in a transition period in the Judson ISD," Interim Superintendent Robert Jaklich said. "We are in a transition period where things aren't always the same as they used to be, where people aren't as comfortable as they used to be, because we have these challenges in front of us."

The cuts position Judson, the fourth-largest school system in Bexar County, as one of the few area districts that is likely to adopt a balanced budget. Board President Monica Ryan praised the development Tuesday.

"What I've seen the last two months is kind of a dramatic shift in the mindset, because now all of a sudden it's an 'I can' and 'We can' mindset," she said.

While the board approved cuts to more than 500 positions in the upcoming budget, mass layoffs are unlikely. The board's earlier vote to close four campuses - three elementary schools and one middle school - will eliminate 284 positions.

The district also will not fill 175 vacant positions. District officials have estimated about 77 currently filled jobs remain that could be eliminated through layoffs. This number could change as employees choose to leave Judson ISD on their own before the next school year.

Overall, the district will cut about 7% of its workforce. Most of the eliminated full-time jobs are campus-based, including 258 teaching positions, 60 educational aides and 60 professional support roles. The district will also cut 144 hourly positions, including custodians, bus drivers, front office staff and security personnel. The cuts will also affect 11 principal or assistant principal roles and three central office positions.

Scott Willis, a district high school teacher, was the only public commenter Tuesday to speak against the plan, saying the cuts to campus staff go too far and were made too quickly.

"Yeah, the numbers are there, but are these the best numbers that we can do?" Willis said. "And please, cabinet members, you're going to glare at me back. I know it's awfully hard for you to decide to eliminate a job for somebody in the next office over for you, and it is certainly easier to do that when the job is 10 miles away from you and not somebody you see on the daily."

Trustee José Macias, the longest-serving board member and most vocal elected official in the board's minority faction, cast the lone vote against the staff cuts.

"It's not easy for me to use the word wonderful when we're not going to fill 536 positions," Macias said. "That is not wonderful to me."

Judson's financial problems stem from declining enrollment and the end of millions in pandemic-era federal grants, which officials relied on to hire additional staff. In November, voters also rejected a proposed tax rate increase that would have generated $21 million in new revenue.

"We can make a decision tonight that allows us to be in the driver's seat with our finances," Kristin Saunders, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said. "We've been in the position where in the past, the money gets to tell us what to do,"

In February, trustees voted to close Ed Franz, Rolling Meadows and Park Village elementary schools and Judson Middle School. Officials estimate the closures will save about $7 million. District officials project the cuts approved Tuesday will erase the remaining deficit.

Northside, North East and San Antonio ISDs, the city's three largest school districts, all project deficits heading into the next school year. Their boards are still working through budget plans.

Judson ISD officials plan to again ask voters to approve a tax rate increase in November and use revenue - if approved - to give raises to remaining staff, Jaklich said.

"We talk about turnover, we talk about value in our people, we talk about the transition that we're in, what are we looking for at this time?" Jaklich said. "We're looking for stability."

Zoning changes

On Tuesday night, trustees voted 5-2 to reassign students from the four campuses that will close next year. Macias and Trustee Laura Stanford voted against the measure. Both said their constituents had concerns about bus routes and where kids in their district were now zoned to high school.

Judson Middle School students will now attend Kitty Hawk Middle School next school year. Students from the three elementary schools that are set to be shuttered next school year will be dispersed among Crestview, Salinas and Copperfield elementaries and Elolf STEAM Academy.

The four campus closures bring the number of district schools from 36 to 32. The largely suburban Judson ISD serves around 23,000 students in Northeast San Antonio and Converse, Kirby, Live Oak, Selma and Universal City.

"Any option we choose, we would have unhappy people. We have to make the best decision for the district as a whole," Trustee Stephanie Jones said.

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