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From elections to funding, read about three education stories affecting families in Hays County.
1. Hays CISD OKs preliminary budget decisions, $12M cuts
The Hays CISD board of trustees approved $12.25 million of budget cuts for fiscal year 2026-27 at a March 30 meeting.
Because almost 90% of HCISD’s budget is spent on salaries, officials said the amount of cuts they needed to make could not be achieved without affecting jobs.
The proposed cuts include the loss of 125 positions and the suspension of 970 stipends, directly affecting more than 1,000 employees.
2. San Marcos CISD opens District 2 seat applications through April 20
The single-member District 2 seat on the San Marcos CISD board of trustees will soon be vacant, and community members now have the opportunity to submit an application to be appointed to fill the seat.
The district canceled its May election after District 1 trustee Jessica Cain and District 3 trustee Sandra Lopez were the only candidates to file in their races, securing new terms until 2029. District 2 trustee Margie Villalpando—whose term is also up in May—is not seeking reelection, and no candidates filed to run in her place.
3. Dripping Springs ISD opens out-of-district transfer applications
Starting April 1, Texas families will be able to apply for an out-of-district transfer to Dripping Springs ISD.
Due to slowed enrollment, DSISD has “extra seats” in grades K-6. Public school funding in Texas is calculated on the average daily attendance of enrolled students. By offering out-of-district transfers for grades K-6, the district aims to increase funding without increasing operating costs, according to the website.
