As Principal Joaquin Hernandez shows me around the sprawling campus of MacArthur High School in San Antonio’s North East ISD, he greets students by name, hurries them to class, and explains how he’s finding ways to cut costs amid a district-wide $62.5 million budget deficit for this school year.
“I try to keep any real cuts away from our classes,” said Hernandez, who also has two children attending the school. “I’ve tried my best to not let the kids feel it.”
Hernandez points out the gray plastic feet they’ve put on rickety chairs, scarred and stained cafeteria tables to be covered up with tablecloths, benches he’s gathered from hotels closing down. He’s also asked students and parents to pitch in. MacArthur’s culinary program cooks food for some school events. Students host fundraisers for extracurricular activities.
