The Pflugerville ISD board of trustees will soon vote on what district optimization actions will be implemented over the next few years in order to reduce PfISD's projected budget shortfall.
Looking back
In light of a multimillion dollar budget shortfall projected in 2026-27 and beyond, district officials began a district optimization process with Civic Solutions Group last fall to review enrollment trends, campus utilization, financial projections and other long-range planning considerations.
CSG later presented 12 draft optimization scenarios at the March 5 board meeting, which included closing four elementary schools and two middle schools, redesigning Dearing Elementary as a high-performing choice option, rezoning elementary schools east of Hwy. 130 and all high schools, exploring new programming at Mott Elementary, Bohls Middle School and Cele Middle School, switching from block scheduling to eight-period schedules at all high schools, and repurposing vacant facilities for alternative programming.
In March, the district held community meetings at nine campuses in order to garner feedback on the scenarios, and ran a ThoughtExchange survey that remained open for one month.
The update
Prior to board discussion at the May 7 meeting, board president Chevonne Lorigo-Johst said the following scenarios were removed from the list of recommended scenarios:
- Closing Westview Middle School, due to concerns raised by the community and trustees about maintaining a middle school west of I-35 and supporting the Connally High School feeder pattern
- Redesigning Dearing Elementary as a high-performing choice option, due to concerns raised by the trustees about advancing this opportunity at a single isolated campus
- Exploring new programming at Mott ES, Bohls MS and Cele MS, as these campuses are not currently projected to face significant enrollment challenges
- Switching high school schedules to eight-period days, as "this is not a decision or process that should be made in isolation or at speed"
Something to noteCSG partner Olin Parker said PfISD is facing several financial and capacity concerns. According to Parker, Texas school districts are expected to maintain a fund balance equivalent to at least 75 days of operating costs, which PfISD is currently meeting.
However, falling below 60 days triggers a corrective action plan which could include hiring freezes or cutting non-essential programs. Insufficient fund balances can also lead to increased borrowing costs to pay off bonds, and multiple "F" ratings on district finances can lead to a financial monitor, conservator or board of managers for the district.
Without action, PfISD could see a projected fund balance of $5.2 million—or six days of operating costs—by the end of the 2029-30 school year, Parker said.
"The immediate reaction is always to say, 'Let's go get our students back,'" Parker said. "That is a valid and worthwhile goal. But research on this very issues shows that is a very, very difficult thing for districts to do. I'm unaware of any district that has successfully brought back a significant enough portion of its students to make a real difference."
Stay tuned
In order to address the district's budget concerns over the next three years, Parker said PfISD will need to make $3 million-$5 million in cuts in 2026-27, $16 million-$18 million in 2027-28, and another $1 million-$3 million in 2028-29.
The board will officially vote on which optimization actions to take at the May 14 board meeting.
