The Austin City/AISD/Travis County Joint Subcommittee convened on June 16, 2025, to discuss critical updates regarding school funding and safety measures in the region. The meeting primarily focused on the implications of House Bill 2, which allocated $8.5 billion for education, detailing how these funds would be distributed among various school districts.

The first significant topic addressed was the increase in the basic allotment for schools, which rose by $55. However, concerns were raised that this amount would not sufficiently cover essential operational costs such as insurance and utilities. To address this gap, the legislature introduced a new allotment specifically for basic costs, aimed at helping districts manage these expenses.

Additionally, the committee discussed teacher pay raises, with specific figures allocated based on district size and teacher experience. For districts with fewer than 5,000 students, teachers with 3 to 4 years of experience would receive a raise of $44,000, while those with over five years would see an increase of $8,000. In larger districts, the raises were set at $2,500 and $5,000, respectively. The introduction of a support staff allotment was also noted, providing $45 per average daily attendance to help districts retain essential staff.

A significant point of discussion was the school safety allotment, which was increased from $10 to $20 per student, and from $15,000 to $33,540 per campus. This funding is intended to support the requirement for peace officers at each campus, a mandate established by previous legislation. However, it was acknowledged that this increase still falls short of covering the actual costs associated with hiring and training law enforcement personnel in schools.

Superintendent Segura highlighted the challenges rural districts face in attracting qualified staff due to higher living costs, suggesting that the funding model does not adequately reflect these disparities. The committee also touched on the new student discipline bill, HB 6, which grants teachers greater authority to remove disruptive students from classrooms, with specific limitations on out-of-school suspensions for younger grades.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the ongoing challenges in adequately funding education and ensuring safety in schools, particularly in balancing the needs of urban and rural districts. The committee plans to continue addressing these issues in future sessions, with a focus on refining funding models and ensuring that all districts can meet their operational and safety requirements effectively.