PISD Budget Reduction Plan

Pflugerville Prepares for Drastic Reduction in State Funding

Despite woeful underfunding from the state, PISD will continue preparing Each Child for Their Future in Our World.

Community Forums March 2, 7-8:30 p.m. Kelly Lane Middle School Cafeteria March 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Westview Middle School Cafeteria March 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Pflugerville Middle School Cafeteria

During 2010 Pflugerville ISD celebrated two outstanding achievements - the district earned the Texas Education Agency's Recognized designation for outstanding student performance, and the Board of Trustees was named a 2010 Texas Honor School Board for demonstrating excellence in school governance. Even as we continue to celebrate this good news, the past few weeks have been filled with bad news about the state budget deficit and budget reductions that will affect every school district in Texas.

Since it is still early in the legislative session, there are many unknowns about how the state will ultimately close their budget gap and when information will be provided to school districts, but we are committed to preparing for the worst-case scenario. Based on what we know now, it is possible Pflugerville ISD may have to cut as much as $20 million from its budget to prepare a balanced budget for the 2011-12 school year.

This is especially disappointing to me because a recent study by the State Comptroller shows Pflugerville ISD is operating with a high degree of efficiency - we are achieving high academic outcomes for students on a very efficient budget.

Pflugerville ISD students are already at a disadvantage because under the Target Revenue system used by the state to determine per student funding, PISD receives less money than almost every district in Central Texas, and below the state average. In short, this means the State of Texas has determined the children in Pflugerville ISD do not deserve the same quality of education as students in neighboring districts or other comparable districts in the state. The planned reduction in funding will only widen the current inequity.

It will take months for the legislature to adopt the state budget, but I want to assure you the leaders of Pflugerville ISD have developed effective financial management systems in support of high student achievement, and administrators and trustees have been busy meeting with elected officials to advocate on behalf of our community and asking them to keep education a priority as they work to balance the state's budget.

We are prepared to carry the heavy burden of developing a balanced budget for the 2011-12 school year We will use a strategic and systematic process that includes a Budget and Compensation Committee made up of staff from each school and central administration. We will also provide routine updates and listen to feedback from the community, all staff, the District Academic Advisory Committee, and the Board of Trustees. The budget will be developed in an environment of open and honest communication and transparency.

While we do not want to cause alarm or undue stress as we consider various ways to address the funding shortfall from the state, we must face the fact we cannot balance the budget without making significant cuts that will affect everyone in the organization.

We will be facing a great deal of uncertainty until the legislative session concludes, but in Pflugerville ISD this is the bottom line - in August 2011 we will begin a new school year. Teachers will be in classrooms with students, and teachers will be provided the support they need. The system of support may look different than it does today, but in Pflugerville ISD we will always focus on teaching and learning. We will continue to provide the high level of service our community expects despite the untenable position the state continues to put us in with inadequate and inequitable funding. We will do what is necessary to ensure Pflugerville ISD continues to prepare Each Child for Their Future in Our World.

Charles E. Dupre
Superintendent of Schools
Pflugerville Independent School District

 

Rumor Watch

During the coming months you will hear many rumors and news reports about the PISD budget and legislative action. When you hear such things, remember the following:

• Pflugerville ISD will consider every option needed to reduce expenditures or increase revenues. We value our outstanding staff, but 83% of our budget is payroll. It is not possible to address the state’s budget shortfall without considering staffing at all levels.
  
• You will hear many rumors about budget reductions in other districts. Each public school district is independent, and each district is in a very different financial position and manages decision-making differently. Do not assume what you hear about other districts is relevant to Pflugerville ISD.
  
• You will hear about proposed reductions at the state level and proposed legislative action that would impact schools. At the state level nothing is final until it has been through several rounds of sub-committee and committee hearings, and considered by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor.
  

 

State Asks More of Schools Despite Massive Funding Cuts

Even as the state tells school districts to prepare for significant cuts in funding, legislators are filing bills that will increase costs for Texas public schools. While each bill is well intentioned, the filing of these bills conveys the message our elected representatives do not understand, or worse, do not take seriously the financial burden and time constraints the passing of these bills would create for schools.

At a time when school districts are being forced to eliminate hundreds of positions to develop balanced budgets, the legislature is considering HB 285, which would require PISD to hire 26 new counselors at an estimated cost of $1.5 million. HB 64 would require a $400 teacher pay increase.

Most of the harmful bills under consideration have an effective date of September 1, 2011, and the 2011-12 school year. The state is unlikely to adopt its budget until late this summer, which would not provide Texas public schools sufficient time to post and hire new positions, much less effectively budget for their cost.

With the understanding Pflugerville ISD is facing as much as a $20 million budget reduction because of the inadequate and inequitable funding provided by the state, we implore all state representatives to be proactive in providing greater flexibility to schools by carefully considering any bill that would increase operating costs or work loads for public school employees.