The Houston school system is poised to cut 277 positions -- nearly all of them central office jobs -- as it braces itself for massive budget cuts from the state.

Houston Independent School District trustees are slated to vote tomorrow on the cuts, which would save the district more than $17 million next year. But the district is facing up to $348 million in cuts from the state.

“Any more cuts would change the level of service provided to students and schools,” the district’s chief financial officer, Melinda Garrett, told trustees recently. “We can make more cuts, but it would mean eliminating entire departments, which we can do if (the trustees) want.”

The reduction in staff will also result in a central office re-organization, which will lead to the consolidation of some departments.

Only one of the positions that could be cut tomorrow is a teaching position -- a literacy coach’s job that is current vacant. Seven of the positions being proposed for elimination are currently funded with stimulus dollars, money that is set to expire by the end of this year.

Also Thursday, HISD trustees are expected to continue the “right-sizing” discussion that could ultimately lead to possible school closures and consolidations. Trustees have been provided with a list of more than 60 “small schools” the district considers under-enrolled; the list was narrowed down to 37 last month.

HISD has provided the trustees with data for the under-enrolled schools that includes each campus’ state academic rating, building capacity and enrollment projections over the next 10 years. (You can view all of the data here.)

Four elementary schools, Love, McDade, Grimes and Rhoads, are already being considered for closure by HISD. The district is holding community meetings about the possible closures this week and next week. HISD trustees are expected vote on whether or not to close the schools April 14.

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Are you concerned about the budget cuts at HISD schools? Are you a parent of a student at one of the schools on HISD’s “small schools” list? Texas Watchdog wants to hear from you. Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org or on Twitter at @lwalsh.

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