{"id":337746,"date":"2025-10-28T06:06:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/337746\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:06:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:06:17","slug":"phoenix-union-high-school-district-to-cut-staff-positions-amid-budget-shortfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/337746\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Union High School District to cut staff positions amid budget shortfall"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 One of Arizona\u2019s largest high school districts announced it will cut staff positions over the next two years due to declining enrollment, resulting in a budget shortfall. <\/p>\n

The district projects it needs to make up a roughly $35 million deficit over the next two school years.<\/p>\n

In a letter to staff on Friday, the Phoenix Union High School District\u2019s (PXU) superintendent said the district will start a reduction-in-force, or RIF, process soon.<\/p>\n

In the letter, Superintendent Thea Andrade said the district saw a decline of about 1,800 students this school year. Last year, they saw a decrease of about 1,200 students, totaling around 3,000 students in the last two years. The letter said it\u2019s a loss of about 10% of the overall student population since 2022.<\/p>\n

Arizona funds districts on a student count basis; high school students cost more than those in K-8.<\/p>\n

PXU is grappling with a decline in enrollment, much like other districts, meaning they also lose state funding. <\/p>\n

Like other districts that have faced this issue in the past few years<\/a>, PXU says the decline in enrollment is due in part to the lower birth rate, lack of affordable housing in the area and the expansion of school choice. <\/p>\n

Some Valley districts facing this issue had to close schools or are currently in discussions<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>of doing so. Mesa Public Schools<\/a>, the state\u2019s largest school district, has been cutting staff positions for the last two years due to declining enrollment and funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis reality, coupled with declining enrollment trends in our partner elementary districts and the population forecasting from our demographic study, forces us to act now,\u201d Andrade said in a video to staff.<\/p>\n

Next year, Andrade said they\u2019ll have to cut about $20 million in the budget and then an additional $15 million the school year after that. The district says it\u2019s already reduced its budget by $14 million in the last two years, cutting positions in the district, getting rid of vacant positions and through natural attrition.<\/p>\n

As a result of the shortfall, the district will be cutting about 6% of its workforce in the next two years, adding that 90% of its annual budget is used for employee salaries and benefits. The district\u2019s website shows there are roughly 3,000 employees.<\/p>\n

Andrade said they will go to the school board in December with a list of positions that may be eliminated.<\/p>\n

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