Northwest ISD to eliminate 100 teaching positions amid $16 million deficit
JUSTIN — As Northwest Independent School District struggles with a $16 million budget deficit, the financial strain is beginning to impact classrooms.
To address the shortfall, the district plans to eliminate 100 teaching positions, accounting for approximately $13 million in savings next school year. The reduction includes about 26 elementary school jobs, 60 middle and high school jobs, and 15 extracurricular positions—changes that will inevitably lead to larger class sizes.
Officials said they hope to minimize direct layoffs by not refilling vacancies left by retirements or resignations. Typically, Northwest ISD hires around 500 new teachers annually, but that number will be significantly reduced this year.
Still, some teachers have already received notice that their contracts will not be renewed.
"It's super dark. It's really sad," said Ethan Munger, a Northwest High School teacher. "Some of the best young teachers I know lost their gigs. And some fantastic teachers who care a lot are now going to be on two campuses instead of one. A lot of kids are about to lose their favorite teachers."
Munger said he doesn't blame the district but believes state leaders could have prevented it.
"I definitely don't fault our administrators or our school board," he said. "I think we are in a really well-run district, and I have faith that what they are doing is the best thing to keep the ship afloat. I am disappointed in the state though, that's for sure. Because this is preventable. We have tens of billions of dollars in surplus just sitting there."
In November, Northwest ISD families voted against a proposed tax increase that would have covered the deficit and preserved teaching positions.
District officials have pointed to Texas' school funding crisis as a major factor, noting that per-student funding has not increased in six years, saying in part, "As with school districts across the state, Northwest ISD has been forced to make challenging staffing changes because of the ongoing Texas School Funding Crisis. Our deficit reduction plan focuses on retaining student programs and eliminating positions — including administration, teaching and support positions — through attrition, though we cannot guarantee all eliminated positions will be handled through absorbing vacated positions."
According to online posts, some community members are planning to travel to the Texas State Capitol in two weeks to advocate for increased school funding.
Although the district has approved the cuts, the process of implementing them is just beginning.
Jill Brumley got to the Northwest ISD school board meeting early Monday night after learning the district will be cutting two programs next school year: Reading Recovery and AVID, which her daughter, Sophia, attends. It focuses on college readiness.
"It has changed my life in so many different ways," said Sophia Brumley. "I came from homeschooling, and so, I didn't know how to take notes, how to keep up my grades, and I didn't know how to, like, really, focus on school."
"We've been told that they're not going to offer the program next year due to budget cuts," Jill Brumley said. "We've also been told the counselors are telling the students, 'Do not register for this class next year because we will not have the class.'"
In a statement, the district said, "State leaders have not increased the base per-student funding in six years, which is used to balance salaries, class sizes, and student programs."
No schools will close, the district said, but class sizes are expected to grow.
- There will be no changes to pre-k, kindergarten and 1st grade
- Grades 2-4 will be adding two students per class
- There will be no changes to 5th grade
- Middle school: the district will add about two students per class period on average
- High school: the district will add about three students per class period on average
A district official said on Tuesday parents will receive an email going over all the changes and what to expect. The district will also continue giving updates at future school board meetings.
