Crystal City ISD laying off 25% of staff amid financial crisis

","width":552},"subtype":"facebook-post","type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"AJCRM3UF2FFTZNXDXJG3XH7XY4","additional_properties":{},"content":"The district filed for financial exigency with the Texas Education Agency last month after leaders realized the severity of its financial issues. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"67Q7UYF2XRBWFADCUVHXB6OJJE","additional_properties":{},"content":"Crystal City ISD interim superintendent Grill said the cuts were “emotional and unfortunate,” but said the situation could have been avoided “by not overspending and overemploying.”","type":"text"},{"_id":"D7YHE6ZAJRCCDDNWLS4C4DIONQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Nearly 90% of the district’s operational budget is spent on employee payroll and benefits, the letter said, which is “far above” the recommended level of about 75%. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"A2KH3JX7JRF47ECXFXVXKSG3UI","additional_properties":{},"content":"The district said it now faces “significant debt obligations” after spending $10.6 million in reserve funds, including:","type":"text"},{"_id":"PMHEBJ4TPREOZKCNEQQFCKOD4Y","items":[{"_id":"3IZKJ7JWYRGLLF7GXXIEAC3G3Q","content":"A repayment of a $4.5 million loan with interest to cover employee payroll through August 31","type":"text"},{"_id":"DNPE3HUSBBBYTP6IQLOREYE6BM","content":"A repayment of a $2.7 million loan taken from the district’s Interest and Sinking & bond account","type":"text"},{"_id":"LYQSSDP5SFDO5P5BPS4XL3QJRQ","content":"Reduce payroll and benefit expenses by about $3.4 million","type":"text"},{"_id":"3KWQWXDUFVGHJBRGIZ7R5A63CM","content":"Pay off $1.1 million in unpaid debt","type":"text"},{"_id":"7GODZHMHHZHMRABN5LNVDSZ2RU","content":"Unknown costs tied to deferred facility maintenance, transportation repairs. ","type":"text"}],"list_type":"unordered","type":"list"},{"_id":"FUGMBGELLBBV3FWWF3TYYEHV64","additional_properties":{},"content":"KSAT reported that Crystal City ISD laid off 32 employees in late 2024 because of financial issues. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"AJN6UI6RKNF2JFA7BBZ6BF5G2M","additional_properties":{},"content":"The district said it expects to continue implementing cost-saving measures throughout the summer.","type":"text"},{"_id":"4K557IKGBRHHNFNZ7SZ7VWRJPY","type":"divider"},{"_id":"6USSCBMBRFAYXPSO3F4R5XXGXU","additional_properties":{},"content":"Read also:","type":"text"},{"_id":"HMD4TJLE3NCA7M2G336CKQSZJQ","items":[{"_id":"LFVTHOW5HVCPPB466Z3W64NMXE","content":"What is the Teacher Incentive Allotment? Texas program gaining momentum across school districts","type":"text"},{"_id":"ZEOTM7KM7JBDDGWXRVHB3QWFCE","content":"More than half of TEFA recipients already enrolled in private or homeschool, data shows","type":"text"}],"list_type":"unordered","type":"list"}],"content_restrictions":{"content_code":"no_restrictions"},"copyright":"Copyright 2026 by KSAT - All rights reserved.","credits":{"by":[{"_id":"DIB410459QTNV7GBAZPOEN7DB7","additional_properties":{"original":{"role":"Investigative Reporter","status":true}},"description":"Daniela Ibarra joined the KSAT News team in July 2023. This isn’t her first time in the KSAT newsroom– the San Antonio native spent the summer of 2017 as an intern. Daniela is a proud Mean Green alum, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas. ","image":{"url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/gmg/5c5968db-3865-4de0-935b-bfb21ed41d6b.png"},"name":"Daniela Ibarra","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"dibarra@ksat.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/KSATDanielaIbarra/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"KSATDaniela"},{"site":"tumblr","url":"https://www.tiktok.com/@ksatdaniela"},{"site":"instagram","url":"ksatdaniela"}],"type":"author"}]},"description":{"basic":"Crystal City ISD is laying off 72 employees as part of the district’s plan to prevent “imminent financial collapse,” according to a letter posted by the district. 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