AISD Money Issues (Austin, Round Rock, Mart: middle-class, transfer, public schools)

[llkltk]

What is up with AISD?

Austin news, sports, weather, Longhorns, business | Statesman.com

Where is all of our property tax money going? It must be mismanaged. I wonder why the superintendent doesn't voluntarily reduce her pay. They are going to layoff teachers, increase class sizes, let go of programs and librarians. But, I'm sure that her hefty salary will be protected.

[ScoPro]

As I posted on another thread the other day, Round Rock ISD has half the enrollment, half the teachers, half the staff that Austin ISD does....but only 1/3 the budget.

And check out the results.

[h886]

Certainly, there are areas any district can improve. I won't deny the same is true of AISD. Still, comparing it to Round Rock isn't entirely fair. 30% of Round Rock's students are economically disadvantaged, compared to a whopping 64% of AISD's. I don't think it's fair to offer up statistics and not take into account the much stiffer challenges facing AISD.

While I think it would be a nice gesture for the higher admin to make cuts to their own salaries, realistically, it would be only a drop in the bucket when we're talking about a $113 million deficit. Still, yes, I'd like to see it. Some of the other ideas like charging for transfers and selling the expensive downtown admin building should have been done years ago.

[ImOnFiya]

Originally Posted by llkltk

What is up with AISD?

Austin news, sports, weather, Longhorns, business | Statesman.com

Where is all of our property tax money going? It must be mismanaged. I wonder why the superintendent doesn't voluntarily reduce her pay. They are going to layoff teachers, increase class sizes, let go of programs and librarians. But, I'm sure that her hefty salary will be protected.

Superintendent Carstaphen never said they were going "to layoff teachers, increase class sizes, let go of programs and librarians". Carstaphen stated in the letter she was going to the school board to ask them for permission. They could always say no (as with the controversial center-city closure and consolidation targets).

Carstaphen using the letter to staff as the 'nuclear option' to pressure the previously wavering school task force on the plan to force consolidations and closures on (at least) some of the center city schools,probably with the least politically-connected areas of the eastside. The resulting school reorganization would probably raise district test scores, and property tax base with the increased gentrification (within the newly-acquired 'safe school' zones).

What the budget shortfall from the state of Texas lies mainly on AISD's balance sheet (as it has since 2007). Carstaphen is acting now to correct some of the balance sheet with the probable eastside closures and consolidations because (in the long-term) AISD can reorganize those schools to help maximize the fast-growing population of upper middle-class students in the near-east side which would now go to O' Henry MS to Austin HS or Kealing MS going to McCallum HS. In addition to school closures and consolidations in this area, school boundaries would change as well. In the remaining minority-majority areas, AISD would organize a smaller class size, special-attention learning program for minority kids tracking to Martin MS, then Eastside Memorial HS.

[h886]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

Superientendent Carstaphen never said they were going "to layoff teachers, increase class sizes, let go of programs and librarians". She was going to the school board to ask them for permission. They could say no (as with the controversial center-city closure and consolidation targets).

They could say no. My guess is some pretty unpopular things are going to have to take place in order to come up with the difference. They've been cutting fat for years. There is more to cut, I'll admit, and that all needs to go, but they can't find $113 million worth of fat.

[llkltk]

Hey if she makes a 45K bonus per year she could give that up to save someone's job. I wouldn't defend her.

[h886]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Hey if she makes a 45K bonus per year she could give that up to save someone's job. I wouldn't defend her.

Good point and I do think they should cut their salaries... might not have been too clear the way I wrote it... just trying to point out that cutting her salary would not do as much as some might think. They will have to make major cuts although I think they can still cut back more with central admin. Some of those guys down there are important, but I can't say they make as much impact with actual kids as the 4+ teachers each of their salaries could pay for.

[HappyTexan]

If they close schools and layoff teachers then wouldn't they logically need to also lay off staff since there's less people to admin ???

You never see staff and non essential school services on the table..it's always the front line folks like teachers, police and fire fighters when the talk of cuts come up.

[princeofpalace]

The entire state has money issues & if you oppose tax hikes then you are in effect approving these massive budget cuts that will seriously hurt public schools, higher education, health & human services etc.. etc..

[HappyTexan]

Well we can either cut, borrow or tax.
Texas is choosing the "cut" option.
This is the first year schools are on the table regarding cuts. I think they can find places to cut.
Austin has been told since 2007 to consolidate and close schools and they always put it off.
Well there is no more putting it off..the bill is here and it's more than we got in our pocket.