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160 jobs in the Phoenix Union High School District are on list to be cut next year

empty classroom
Getty Images

The Phoenix Union High School District has posted a preliminary list of more than 160 positions that could be cut next school year.

In October, the district announced it would have to cut $20 million from its budget for the 2026-27 school year. At the time, Superintendent Thea Andrade said 90% of the district’s annual budget is used for employee salaries and benefits, which means they have to cut staff positions.

A preliminary list of those jobs was posted in this week’s governing board agenda for approval.

They include administrative, certified and classified staff and are in line with the superintendent's promise to protect the classroom as much as possible.

This is just phase one of the district’s reduction in force. Additional, smaller phases are expected in January and February. The district estimates an additional $15 million will need to be cut in the 2027–28 school year to stay financially solvent.

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Senior field correspondent Bridget Dowd has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.