PHOENIX – The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) is reducing its staff by 6% following a $20 million budget shortfall due to declining enrollment.

The district recently released a video explaining the situation, saying about 3,000 students have left the district since 2022, adding up to nearly 10% of the student population.

Since PXU’s 24 schools are funded on a per-pupil basis, that has led to a drop in funding, according to Superintendent Thea Andrade.

She added that deciding to cut staff was “very difficult” and that the decision was made to protect the classroom for students.

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