SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to approve the 2024-2025 school year budget Monday night.
The unanimous vote came after the district showed a presentation breaking down changes to its General Fund, Debt Service Fund and Child Nutrition Fund for next school year. During the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jaime Aquino said the district faces a ‘dire financial situation.’
“We are struggling even to offer the most basic services,” Aquino said. “I hear from families and staff and from the board, ‘don’t cut programs and services.’ We have to cut programs and services.’”
The budget discussions on Wednesday night mentioned some revenue cuts to the central office and some district-wide divisions. That presentation didn’t specify what would be cut to accommodate these reductions. Trustee Ed Garza asked that information be presented during the next budget cycle. One attendee even asked for physical copies of the budget to be handed out so people could read along with the district.
SAISD did, however, discuss some budget enhancements during the meeting. The school district highlighted how it approved a 2% increase in general pay for full-time, permanent employees. The district also discussed granting Martin Luther King Academy a new campus-wide stipend and restoring select after-school programs for some middle school grade levels.
While the budget was approved Monday night, SAISD said amendments are expected throughout the school year. The district also has to make a decision later this summer on the proposed tax rate.