Students, parents and boosters urge Austin ISD trustees to save water polo as budget cuts loom

Dozens of students, parents and community boosters packed the Austin ISD boardroom Thursday to plead with trustees not to eliminate UIL water polo amid steep budget reductions.

"Water polo is not just a sport. It is a community," said Jonah Ramos, a rising sophomore, who told trustees that cuts would erase tournaments and the friendships the season creates. Several student captains and parents said the program offers access for students who cannot afford expensive club alternatives and that participation has surged since UIL recognition.

"Our booster clubs have organized. We are willing to step up to fund to find the funding to keep our kids in the pool," said Megan Brown, an AISD alumna and parent. Steve Roberts, president of the Anderson Water Polo Boosters and head coach at the University of Texas, told trustees the community is prepared to co‑fund the sport and highlighted a pledge of technical and financial support from USA Water Polo.

District leaders said transportation costs — not facilities or equipment — have driven much of the program’s expense for small, widely distributed teams. "What we're gonna propose is, allocating a bus to each of the campuses, and then having the coach at the campus be the driver of the bus," Superintendent Segura said, describing a model the district and athletics staff are testing to reduce district transportation expense while keeping teams eligible for competition.

Katrina Montgomery, the district’s chief financial officer, framed the proposal as part of broader reductions in a budget that now projects a deepening FY25–26 shortfall. She told trustees that, with partner support and the revised transportation plan, the district can "support, moving forward, with continuing water polo, but it's going to be at a reduced cost."

Supporters urged trustees to accept short‑term community contributions and partnerships rather than eliminating the sport. Several parents warned that removing water polo could drive families to neighboring districts.

Next steps: trustees and staff said they will continue to refine the transportation and cost‑sharing approach and that athletics leadership will meet with boosters and coaches to finalize options before the June 18 board meeting. If trustees accept a packaged recommendation, the district would preserve the sport at lower district cost and ask boosters to cover remaining program expenses.