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2026-27 Budget Reduction Strategies
Budget Overview
Why are we here?
Over the past several years, Mesquite ISD has experienced a steady decline in student enrollment. This trend is not unique to our district and is driven by multiple factors, including a lower birthrate across the region and an increase in school choice options, such as charter schools and other educational alternatives. Together, these shifts mean fewer students enrolling in Mesquite ISD each year.
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As student enrollment has declined, staffing levels have not decreased at the same pace, creating a mismatch between the number of students served and the resources required to support current operations. This means the district is now supporting fewer students with a larger workforce than enrollment levels can sustainably fund.
How do we move forward?
Mesquite ISD has adopted deficit budgets for the past two years, but this is not a sustainable path forward. The district cannot continue to use the fund balance to cover rising operational costs and staffing levels that no longer align with enrollment.
To ensure Mesquite ISD remains financially strong and able to serve students well into the future, the Board of Trustees directed Superintendent Dr. Ángel Rivera to present a balanced budget for the 2026–27 school year.
Meeting this expectation requires the district to reduce expenditures by at least $24 million. The budget reduction strategies outlined below focus on right-sizing the organization to better align with current enrollment, using resources more efficiently, and honoring the district’s responsibility as a steward of public funds. Throughout this process, the district’s priorities remain clear: protecting student learning, safety, and the long-term success of Mesquite ISD.
Watch Dr. Rivera’s Dec. 16 Presentation to Mesquite ISD Staff
Budget Reduction Strategies
Mesquite ISD is implementing a combination of staffing and non-payroll budget reduction strategies to right-size the district and better align resources with current enrollment, campus needs, and available funding. These strategies were informed by multiple sources of input, including staff and leadership surveys and the work of a strategic budget committee that met over three months to review data, consider options, and provide valuable feedback.
Together, this input helped district leadership carefully evaluate options and determine budget-reduction strategies, balancing financial responsibility with a continued focus on student success.
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District-wide, supply budgets were cut by 10% for the 2025-26 school year. Department and campus supply budgets will be reduced by an additional 5% for 2026-27, impacting employee travel, supplies and materials, software, memberships, and food/drinks.
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The following positions will be discontinued at the conclusion of this school year. Employees currently holding these positions will be notified by February 13, and are encouraged to apply for other open positions.
- Lunchroom Monitors – 74 part-time positions
- Bilingual Aides – 42 positions
- Kindergarten Aides – 34 positions
- Campus Clerical Staff – 14.5 positions
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The following positions will be eliminated at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Staff currently in these positions will be reassigned as like positions become open through attrition/staff turnover.
- Custodial Staffing – 15 positions
- High School Assistant Principals – 6 positions
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The following roles will be discontinued at the end of the 2025–26 school year. Affected employees will be notified by Feb. 13, and term-contract staff will be reassigned for 2026-27.
- Family & Community Engagement Specialists – 5 positions*
- Additional Central Office Positions – 10 positions*
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To improve role clarity and system efficiency, the district is consolidating several positions. Staff currently holding one of the positions being consolidated may apply for newly posted positions, which will be posted on Dec. 17 and close on Jan. 9. Only internal candidates will be considered for the newly consolidated positions. Term contract staff not selected for consolidated roles will be reassigned.
- Elementary Campus Intervention Specialist (CIS) and Elementary Student Support Liaison (SSL) – 19 positions eliminated; remaining positions consolidated into a new role
- Instructional Coaches (IC) and Instructional Technology Coaches (ITC) – 28 positions eliminated; remaining positions consolidated into a new role
- Advanced Academic Specialist/Coordinators – 5 positions eliminated; remaining six positions (one per high school) will be filled for 2026-27
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- ESL Teachers – 15 positions eliminated; remaining ESL Teachers will be deployed to campuses based on the number of certified teachers and eligible students.
- Implementation of staffing formulas – eliminate 103 surplus teaching positions
Currently, elementary and secondary teachers in Mesquite ISD receive nearly twice the state-required planning time, which necessitates additional staffing. Returning most teachers* to the state-required 450 minutes over ten days will allow the district to reduce surplus positions while continuing to meet instructional requirements.
- Eliminate extra specials rotations and return to the state-required planning time for elementary teachers - eliminate extra specials rotations and return to the state-required planning time for teachers - eliminate music teacher (8), art teacher (6) , and P.E. aide (33) positions (Students will continue participating in weekly art, music, and PE)
- Align secondary teacher planning time for non-STAAR tested areas with state requirements – eliminate 67 surplus positions (*secondary teachers of STAAR tested areas will maintain current planning time)
Term contract teachers will be reassigned. The district is exploring alternative methods to provide additional planning time for teachers.
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- Coaching Stipends – Of the surplus teacher positions eliminated, 10 secondary coaching stipends will be discontinued.
FAQs
Use this link to share any questions you have that you would like addressed on the Budget FAQ website, or offer suggestions or ideas that may help strengthen implementation and minimize impact. Your feedback will help inform ongoing communication and decision-making, with a continued focus on students and staff.
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Like many school districts across Texas, Mesquite ISD is navigating difficult financial conditions driven by factors affecting public education statewide. These include declining student enrollment due to slowing birth rates and expanded school choice options, rising operational and inflation-related costs, and state funding that has not kept pace with those increasing expenses.
In Mesquite ISD specifically, these statewide challenges are compounded by local enrollment trends. As student enrollment has declined, staffing levels have not decreased at the same pace, creating a mismatch between the number of students served and the resources required to support current operations.
Together, these factors make it necessary for the district to take action now to better align staffing and resources with enrollment, restore financial stability, and ensure Mesquite ISD can continue serving students well into the future.
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Before proposing staffing reductions, Mesquite ISD implemented $17.7 million in budget reductions for the 2025–26 school year. These actions focused primarily on non-payroll expenses and central operations, including:
- Reductions in districtwide supply budgets
- Technology cost savings, including shifting device refresh cycles to bond funding (approved by MISD voters)
- Elimination of 13 central administrative positions
- Operational efficiencies, such as closing the district print shop
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These strategies were developed through a comprehensive review of district financial data, enrollment trends, staffing levels, and operational efficiency, to align resources to current needs and ensure long-term financial stability.
These strategies were informed by:
- Analysis of declining enrollment and revenue trends
- Reviews of staffing levels compared to peer districts, including findings from a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) study
- Feedback from campus and district leaders
- Input from staff via a districtwide survey
- Recommendations and feedback from the Strategic Budget Committee, which included parents, staff, students, and community members
This data-informed, collaborative process helped identify savings opportunities while prioritizing student learning, safety, and the long-term success of Mesquite ISD.
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85% of Mesquite ISD’s operating budget is dedicated to salaries, leaving limited flexibility to achieve required savings through non-payroll reduction strategies alone.
We must right-size the district to align staffing with current enrollment, enhance operational efficiency, and present a balanced budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
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Employees whose positions are affected will be notified by Personnel Services via an email sent from Frontline. Notification timelines may vary depending on employee classification, including term contract, probationary, non-certified, and at-will staff. All affected employees will receive position- and employment-status-specific communications by February 13.
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To verify if you are on a term contract, review your contract in Frontline Central. You can access Frontline Central by logging in through the MISD portal and clicking the Frontline Education icon on your dashboard.
You may also access Frontline Central using the direct login link. When using the direct link, log in with your MISD credentials. If you experience any issues logging in, contact the Help Desk at HelpDesk@mesquiteisd.org.
Once logged in, select My Staff Profile from the left-hand navigation menu. Then click Personnel Documents. This section contains important documents, including your professional contract or letter agreement.
Open the document listed under Contracts & Notices. Your contract type, including whether you are on a term contract, will be indicated in the document title and/or within the contract details.
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While it is not a strategy to be implemented for the 2026-27 fiscal year, Mesquite ISD will continue to evaluate the implications and opportunities of reimagining the elementary librarian role.
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Positions that are eliminated or reduced will take effect at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year. Newly consolidated roles will begin for the 2026-27 school year
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Staff currently holding positions that are being consolidated will be invited to apply for the new roles, which will be posted between Dec. 17 and Jan. 9, 2026. These roles will be open only to internal candidates. Employees currently in one of the consolidated roles who apply but are not selected for a newly created position and who are in good standing with the district and on a term contract will have their employment continued. Those individuals will be reassigned based on district needs and their qualifications.