PHOENIX – The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) is reducing its staff by 6% following a $20 million budget shortfall due to declining enrollment.
The district recently released a video explaining the situation, saying about 3,000 students have left the district since 2022, adding up to nearly 10% of the student population.
Since PXU’s 24 schools are funded on a per-pupil basis, that has led to a drop in funding, according to Superintendent Thea Andrade.
She added that deciding to cut staff was “very difficult” and that the decision was made to protect the classroom for students.
“Approximately 90% of our annual budget is used for employee salaries and benefits. Therefore, we must reduce positions above and beyond natural attrition due to the sheer size of the budget reduction needed,” Andrade said.
The staff reductions are only covering $15 million of the $20 million in cuts needed for the 2026-27 school year.
What positions will Phoenix Union High School District cut?
Andrade explained that at the district’s upcoming meeting on Dec. 4, the list of positions being reduced will be released. This action will constitute Phase 1 of the multi-step plan to fill the deficit. Phase 2 is expected to take place early next year.
“We strategically redirected resources where they are needed most by merging positions, evaluating student-to-staff ratios, and leveraging dollars by combining some of our smallest specialty schools,” she said.
Other districts are facing similar situations, with Kyrene and Scottsdale Unified considering closing schools as a result of lower enrollment.
“We’ve also seen a continued expansion of empowerment scholarship accounts,” Andrade said. “In addition, more families may be choosing charter schools. And of course, gentrification is real in some communities. This, coupled with soaring home prices and declining birth rates, means that fewer families are moving to our area and even less are staying.”
From 2023 to 2025, the district reduced its budget by $14.2 million due to enrollment dropping. $15 million more may need to be cut in 2027 to make up for an expected deficit, as well.
“Despite the challenges ahead, we must remain focused on our students,” Andrade said. “We will weather this storm. We will move forward stronger together.”
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