AISD to exit financial emergency

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Monday night the Austin Superintendent will make it official that there will be no layoffs for the 2013 school year.

The Superintendent plans to do that by withdrawing the district's declaration of a financial emergency.

Dr. Maria Carstarphen is expected to tell the board that as a result of making drastic cuts this past year - they are on stable financial footing for the 2013 budget year and there will be no layoffs.

Last year more than 1,100 positions were cut in order to offset the state reduction in funding by $35 million.  The district also lost nearly $64 million in federal stimulus funds and $20 million in state grants.

In addition to the cuts in staff the district also did some cutting to other areas as well.

They established fixed fuel prices, a shorter work week in July, and reduced funding in athletics, summer school, and school turnaround initiatives.

Those cuts combined with the staff reductions allowed the district to balance its budget and increase the reserve levels to avoid additional layoffs for this next school year.

Monday night the board will also approve plans for a new performing arts center in the Mueller development, consider plans for a new elementary school in North Austin, and vote on a contract that would allow the Austin Aztec which is the soccer team to use House Park.