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Carroll
Independent School District
2002-2003
Budget Update
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Breaking News
(NEW)
2002-2003 Budget Cuts
June 10 School Board Meeting
Agenda (NEW)
May 20 Board
Meeting Highlights (pdf)
Budget
Outlook Fact Sheet (pdf)
Budget Cut Options
(pdf)
An Important Message To CISD Parents &
Taxpayers,
Carroll ISD Administrators presented the 2002-2003 preliminary budget to
the Board of Education on May 7th. The budget proposal includes a
mandatory raise for employees from the Texas Legislature, along with a
three-cent proposed tax increase in maintenance and operations and $2.5
million in budget cuts to accommodate the projected deficit. In the
coming weeks, Trustees will review options for cutting the budget,
increasing revenue and meeting student needs for the coming school year.
The budget and tax rate are required by law to be approved by August 31,
2002.
Our budget outlook is grim, to say the
least. For the past several years, school officials have tried to
communicate and prepare parents and taxpayers about Robin Hood. We are
not unlike districts like Grapevine-Colleyville, Highland Park, Coppell
and Northwest. All have made significant budget cuts and difficult
decisions about valuable employees and important programs because of the
school finance system. These same decisions lie ahead for CISD. Despite
the fact that we have four new Board members and are in the middle of a
search for a new superintendent, difficult budget decisions must be made
now. Carroll ISD officials are doing everything possible to minimize the
impact on children in the classroom and to ensure that our current
employees have jobs next year. However, when 85% of the school budget is
tied up in personnel costs and another 7% is tied up in utilities, it is
nearly impossible to make significant cuts without affecting people and
programs. We do believe, however, that through retirements and
attrition, we can offer our employees reasonable assurance that they
will not be completely without a job. This brings us a small measure of
comfort during difficult times.
Unfortunately, there is no relief in
sight. The Fort Worth Star Telegram recently reported that the Texas
Legislature is unlikely to be in a position to "fix" Robin Hood in the
next session. That means that Robin Hood and its effects on Carroll ISD,
will be a reality for the next several years. This year, the district
paid about $3.3 million into the state finance system. Next year, we
expect to surrender about $8.3 million. Despite efforts the last three
years to reduce spending at the department and campus level, the deficit
in the proposed budget is enormous. In addition, the effects of
September 11th have reduced our ability to raise interest income or
accommodate increases in health, property casualty and liability
insurance premiums.
At this point, everything is still
subject to discussion and Board approval. The list of recommended cuts
have been prioritized by the Administration/Principals, and presented in
list form to the CISD Board. The priority one items are a part of the
Administration's Recommendation for elimination. Other items are listed
as lower priorities and are not currently being recommended for removal.
The proposed cuts include measures to increase student-teacher ratios,
consolidate district positions, restrict travel, reduce support
personnel, eliminate or reduce programs and centralize district
services. The cuts affect all campuses, grade levels and departments,
including reductions in fine arts, athletics, administrative and
auxiliary departments. In some cases, the cuts occur because of
increases in student-teacher ratios and master scheduling and will not
necessarily appear as a line item on the Administration's list.
For example, proposed cuts like food for meetings, printing services,
uniform allowances, and travel significantly affect departments such as
staff development, athletics, communications, fine arts and maintenance.
Superintendent Dr. Ted Gillum said if
given a choice, he personally would not recommend one item on the budget
cut list. However, the district faces a serious deficit and an
ever-increasing Robin Hood payment and will be forced to make very
difficult decisions in the coming weeks. Administrators and principals
told the Board that the cuts recommended on the list were prioritized
using the following criteria:
1) is the program state-mandated?
2) how many students are served by this
program?
3) what is the cost per student to run
this program?
4) is the program part of the state
testing/accountability system?
5) what is the overall affect on
children?
Make no mistake, all of the items on the
list are needed and important. Putting names and faces to the positions
recommended for elimination makes this a painful process. Under the
Administration's recommendation, the total number of administrators has
been reduced. The total number of teachers has been reduced. The total
number of band and choir directors has been reduced. The total number of
coaches has been reduced. The total number of support personnel has been
reduced. Employees across the district are being asked to accept larger
work loads and more responsibility despite the fact that some
departments have already experienced as much as 40% cuts in the past
three-year period. You can imagine that morale is somewhat low during
this time of change and financial uncertainty. Despite all this, our
staff remains committed to the children of this community and eager to
stand together through difficult times as an example to students and
families of CISD.
We want you as parents and taxpayers to
review the list. We want to answer your questions and keep you informed.
We know as a Central Administration and Board, that tax increases,
program cuts and user fees (charging for parking, bus transportation and
participation in extracurricular activities, etc.) are not popular
ideas. However, we must make good decisions to help ensure we maintain
an exemplary education for the children of Carroll ISD. Fortunately, our
financial outlook will improve slightly after about a three-year period
of budget reductions.
The Board will meet May 20th to further
discuss the 2002-2003 proposed budget. In addition, meetings will be
held throughout the summer to finalize recommendations and make final
budget decisions before Aug. 31. We will do our best to keep you
informed and aware of discussion and actions taken by our Board. As
always, please contact the Communications Department and/or your campus
principal if you have questions.
Copyright © 2001
Carroll Independent School District All Rights Reserved.
Page Last Updated: 06/06/02
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