How Much Money Will This Actually Save?
The district claims closures will save $13 million annually. AISD's 2024 budget was $1.8 billion.
That's 0.7% of the budget.
The Real Math
For comparison, that's like someone making $100,000/year cutting $700 from their annual spending. Would you uproot your entire life for that?
What They're Not Telling You
The $13M figure assumes best-case scenario. Here's what it doesn't include:
1. Enrollment Decline = Lost Revenue
When schools close or boundaries change, families leave the district. Research is clear on this.
- •Each student lost = $6,000+ in per-student state funding gone
- •If just 1,000 students leave as a result of this plan, that's $6M+ in lost revenue
- •The "savings" could be completely erased by enrollment loss
2. Transportation Costs Will Skyrocket
- •Longer bus routes = more buses, more drivers, more fuel
- •Students traveling farther from home
- •Increased traffic and longer commutes for families who drive
3. Closed Buildings Aren't Free
Empty schools still need:
- •Security and monitoring
- •Basic maintenance and utilities
- •Insurance and liability coverage
- •Property management
The current district plan does not include what they will actually do with any of these buildings. That is left for a future decision. In fact, of the 6 schools closed by AISD in 19, only 1 is now leased for other purposes, and that was just earlier this year.
4. One-Time Transition Costs
- •Moving expenses
- •Technology and furniture transfers
- •Staff reassignments and severance
- •Facility modifications at receiving schools
- •Community disruption and lost instructional time
Bottom line: The actual net savings could be close to zero—or even negative.
Better Alternatives That Could Save More
Actual Cost-Cutting Options:
- •Reduce administrative overhead (not classroom staff)
- •Renegotiate contracts and vendor agreements (AISD technology vendors are objectively terrible)
Address the Real Problem:
- •Advocate for increased state funding (Texas ranks near bottom in per-pupil funding)
- •Push for commercial property tax reform
- •Fight for adequate public education funding at the legislature
Questions the Board Must Answer
Before voting, demand answers to:
1. What is the NET savings after accounting for:
- •Increased transportation costs?
- •Projected enrollment loss and lost revenue?
- •Ongoing maintenance of closed buildings?
- •One-time transition costs?
2. What revenue-generating alternatives were seriously considered?
3. Why disrupt 98% of campuses for less than 1% in savings?
4. What happens if enrollment drops further due to closures?
The Bottom Line
$13 million is not worth:
- •Disrupting 75% of AISD students
- •Destroying neighborhood schools
- •Proven harm to academic outcomes
- •Families leaving the district
- •Community destabilization
The district can find 0.7% elsewhere.