Not all Central TX teaching jobs safe

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Exactly one year ago, the Austin school district announced plans to drastically downsize. In the beginning stages, administrators said nearly 500 teachers would lose their jobs. In the end, more than 1,100 positions -- from the classroom to central office -- were cut.

As promised, Monday night the superintendent will be following through with her promise to teachers and the community that there will be no more layoffs for the next school year.

 "I think people are relieved, but I don't think we've turned the corner. I think it's very hard on morale in general under conditions Texas is in today," said Austin Independent School District Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.

Pflugerville ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre agrees that teacher morale is low. Monday, he said layoffs are not in his district's future either after cutting deep enough last year to cover the next three years.

"There's a lot of people who've been carrying a lot of load for the last year," said Dupre.

Round Rock and Leander ISDs said their teachers are safe as well, but some Central Texas districts, like Hutto, are bracing for their second round of cuts.

"We thought were we safe by cutting $4.5 million, but unfortunately there's another $1.2 million to go and it's hard, it's hard to find right now," said Emily Boswell, Hutto ISD public information officer.

Layoffs are likely, but it is too early to say how many. The Hutto school board is in the early stages of budget planning.

A long list of options are on the table to save money, including a plan to charge students to ride the bus, doing away with middle school electives and forcing teachers to take days off.

Georgetown ISD cut more than $6 million for the current school year, but must find a way to cut another $5.5 million for next school year. It is too soon for the district to say what that might look like for employees or students.