The Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees reviewed a preliminary version of the proposed 2025-2026 district budget and employee compensation plan. While the proposed budget outlines a general roadmap for the coming school year, it does not yet account for major new state legislation recently signed into law, including House Bill 2 (HB 2), Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), and Senate Bill 23 (SB 23).
According to AISD Board President Doyle Corder, the late timing of the governor’s signing of HB 2 has left the district waiting for critical funding details.
“House Bill 2 just recently was signed by the governor—that changes everything in the funding mechanism,” Corder said during the June 9 meeting. “So revenue changes and we don’t really know all the details on that. But we are feeling good about teacher raises and making every student successful.”
Teacher Pay Raises on the Table
One key feature of the proposed budget is a 2% raise for all district employees across every pay grade—a move the board says shows a strong commitment to staff, despite statewide financial uncertainties.
“That’s not happening across the state, but AISD is committed to our teachers,” Corder emphasized. “So they will not only get, if we pass this budget, a 2% raise, but they will also get the raise that just passed in House Bill 2.”
The full financial impact of HB 2 is still unknown, but AISD leaders say they plan to incorporate changes through budget amendments beginning in July as more information becomes available.
“There will be amendments once we get all the information from House Bill 2,” Corder said. “There will be amendments to the budget this next year.”
Enrollment Decline Affects Funding
AISD is also contending with a steady decline in student enrollment—a trend that impacts both state funding and strategic planning. According to Daniel West, AISD Chief Financial Officer, student attendance, especially among special populations, directly affects the money the district receives from the state.
“So it’s going to be enrollment as an overall total and average daily attendance,” West explained, “but it’s also going to be for our special populations and the weighted increase on the allotment for harder-to-educate kids.”
The district reported a drop of 4,352 students since its enrollment peak in the 2015–2016 school year. As of the October 2024 snapshot date, AISD’s enrollment stood at 29,321. The upcoming budget is based on a projected enrollment of 28,771 students.
School Consolidation Yields Cost Savings
In response to lower enrollment and rising costs, the district consolidated three elementary schools—Park Hills, Pleasant Valley, and Sunrise—resulting in an estimated $3.7 million in annual savings. This measure is one of several steps AISD is taking to manage limited resources efficiently while trying to maintain academic standards.
Increased State Reliance Sparks Concerns
One of the more serious concerns raised during the meeting was the district’s growing dependence on state funding. Currently, 80% of AISD’s funding comes from the state, compared to a previous mix of one-third local and two-thirds state.
“More and more of our funding is coming from the state and not local,” said Corder. “That means more state control and not local control, and we believe that we know best for our students locally, because we know our community best.”
Corder warned that if the state were ever to face financial strain, AISD and similar districts could feel the impact deeply, as local funding sources have less influence over the current budget.
What’s Next?
AISD has scheduled a public hearing and vote on the 2025–2026 district budget for June 23, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. This meeting will allow for public input before the board officially adopts the budget and prepares for upcoming amendments.
Until then, district leaders say they’ll continue monitoring the situation at the state level to ensure the final budget reflects the most accurate and up-to-date funding outlook.
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