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Phoenix Union Sets Phased Staff Cuts, $35 Million in New Reductions After Enrollment Slide

A reduction-in-force begins in December with a preliminary list to the Governing Board.

Overview

  • Superintendent Thea Andrade said the district must trim about $20 million in 2026–27 and another $15 million the following year to remain financially solvent.
  • PXU plans to cut roughly 6% of its workforce, about 250 positions, through phased actions from December 2025 to February 2026.
  • A preliminary roster of positions targeted for elimination will be presented in December, with additional phases scheduled for January and February.
  • Enrollment has dropped by about 3,000 students over two years, including roughly 1,800 this year, reducing state revenue tied to student counts.
  • Leaders cite low state funding levels, the expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, gentrification, and lower birth rates as contributors, and the district is exploring a retirement incentive after making about $14 million in prior cuts.