The details
The “special” classes are rotating programs outside of regular classroom activities. The programs typically include art, music and physical education, with STEM—or science, technology, engineering and math—being a fourth option for grade levels that exceed 110 students.
In recent years, the district has been able to keep a fourth special at elementary campuses even if there were no classes with 110 students or more, Wright said in the email. However, as the district prepares for next year’s staffing in a “more conservative manner,” he said HCISD will “likely not be able to afford” to continue the STEM specials at the following elementary schools:
- Buda Elementary School
- Carpenter Hill Elementary School
- Elm Grove Elementary School
- Hemphill Elementary School
- Kyle Elementary School
Teachers who instructed specials instead of regular grade level classes will return to teaching regular grade level classes on the campuses in which the program is being eliminated, he said.
Fourth specials will continue for students at campuses that have grade levels with more than 110 students, he said.
How we got here
District officials looked at other options instead of cutting the STEM specials at impacted campuses, including increasing class sizes, Savoy said. However, if the district followed staffing guidelines that only allotted a fourth special to campuses with more than 110 students in a grade level, they would not have to increase class sizes.
Staffing guidelines are set by the administration based on “industry best practices” regarding class sizes and staffing, Savoy said. The district has previously drifted from the guidelines in order to have the fourth special at all campuses, even those with less than 110 students in a grade level.
“We have had the luxury in past years of not having to adhere to our staffing guideline limits if we had fourth specials in place,” he said . “With budgets tight, we no longer can do that.”
The decision to get rid of additional specials instead of having bigger class sizes was, “the least disruptive way to achieve budget savings,” he said.
“We hate having to do it, but the other options like increasing class size for everyone and potentially having to do layoffs were much worse options,” he said.
The STEM program would meet every seven to 10 days and was not a required program subject compared to the other special programs like PE where students meet multiple times a week for required minutes, Savoy said. This is why other specials weren’t cut, he said.
Savoy said there is “always a possibility” that other specials could be cut.
On a similar note
Superintendent Wright said the district is not considering laying off staff members. However, there are about two dozen staffers who will be impacted by changes to their positions.
In addition to former “specials” program teachers who would return to regular classrooms on their campus, other impact staff include teachers that may teach a different subject, or teach at a different classroom depending on final enrollment counts, Savoy said. Current teachers would be used at elementary campuses with a drop in enrollment or at secondary levels that have classes with low interest.
The decision was based on projected student numbers in grade levels and classes, he said.
District administration is in the process of notifying impacted employees, he said.
District officials are working on ways to combat their current $6.2 million budget shortfall, which includes cutting STEM specials. Additionally, they are hoping to reduce costs through attrition, meaning not filling in future vacant positions including central office and campus administration roles.
What’s next
The administrative decision on staffing changes and the STEM specials are final, Savoy said, but district officials are considering legislative changes, the board of trustees’ vote on a final budget, and actual enrollment numbers for the 2025-26 school year.
Wright said that if adequate funding is available, he would reinstate the STEM specials.
“I pledge to you that at the soonest possible date in which we are better funded, we will work to restore the cuts we have had to make this year—beginning with the STEM 'specials' at our elementary campuses,” he said.
