The Budget Stabilization Task Force worked in small groups to discuss potential budget investments and began establishing subcommittees at its fifth meeting Sept. 12. The group continues its work finding strategies to close the budget deficit, following the Board of Trustees' approval of the latest budget that includes a $29 million dip into reserves. The district is expected to have even greater budget shortfalls in the future.

Here are three things to know as the task force moves forward.

1. The task force dedicated the majority of the meeting to working in small groups to have tough conversations about budget priorities. AISD administrators, at the request of the task force, provided a list of potential investments and reductions for members to review and use in an online activity to balance a budget. A total of five groups provided a list of priorities. Each task force member will also complete the activity individually and the data will be collected to identify trends and develop a short list of budget priorities.
2. Task force members began creating subcommittees to further research specific budget areas. The task force currently has one subcommittee dedicated to contracts and vendors. The additional subcommittees will include efficiencies and departments, revenue and programs, and staffing and compensation. Subcommittee members will have opportunities to meet with appropriate administrative staff to understand and complete criteria evaluations on potential options. Subcommittees will present findings to the larger task force body at a later date. Members will have the opportunity to make amendments to the recommendations before taking a final vote and submitting recommendations to Superintendent Paul Cruz.
3. The Task Force further discussed the format of their final recommendations and agreed to take a tiered approach that identifies the highest priorities, items that need further discussion, but might be recommended in future years, and items that should not be acted upon because it would conflict with our core values or “who we are” as the AISD. The final report will include the level of support among members for each option and a summary of considerations that were weighed in the decision-making process. The data will also be disaggregated, including which groups prioritized items so the public can see for example, which priorities teachers or community members felt were important compared to the group as a whole.

Learn more about the presentations, questions and discussion during the meeting at the BSTF website.