The El Paso Independent School District is again grappling with the fallout from a severe budget shortfall, with a vote that could result in hundreds of job cuts.
The EPISD Board of Trustees considered declaring financial exigency and implementing a drastic savings plan that did not rule out cutting over 400 jobs from both the educational and administrative staff during a special session meeting on Tuesday, May 26.
The vote to designate the district could happen at an 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 2 meeting, according to the meeting agenda. The meeting will take place at the EPISD Administration Building at 1014 North Stanton St.
EPISD Superintendent Brian Lusk publicly backed the move, which could result in the elimination of 410 jobs. It is still unknown how such a decision, if approved, would impact other expenditures, such as retirement plans and currently vacant positions.
District data noted that cuts would impact 250 campus-level positions and 160 central office positions, which could save the district $17 million and $11 million per year.
MoakCasey, an Austin-based public school consulting firm the district hired to conduct an audit this month, noted that the district should consider declaring a financial exigency after it had a $52.8 million deficit. That includes a previously adopted $6 million deficit included in the 2025-26 budget.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter of the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso ISD to hold vote on possible job cuts over budget shortfall
Reporting by Kristian Jaime, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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