Published: July 18, 2008 10:29 am            

No wiggle room in WISD budget

Carman Williams

cwilliams@weatherforddemocrat.com

Teacher’s salaries were a topic of concern during last night’s Weatherford ISD school board meeting and work session.

While reviewing the budget for the 2008-09 school year, Dr. Randy Burks explained the budget has been stretched as much as the board feels is possible.

“I don’t know where the wiggle room is,” Burks said. “Significant cuts would be people and programs, not [a matter of] just tightening our belt.”

The bulk of the budget is going toward salaries and ever-increasing utility costs.

Superintendent Deborah Cron said running the school district was difficult with such a restrictive budget.

“It was difficult to look at these requests and the needs there and then look at the revenue and see that there just weren’t the funds there,” Cron said.

Because of House Bill 1, Weatherford ISD funds are capped, meaning no more than $5,080 per student is given to the district.

The proposed budget allows for a 1 percent pay increase for professionals and a 3 percent increase for support staff, but board members expressed concern about the salaries.

Board member Paul Paschall was concerned about losing Weatherford teachers to surrounding districts with more competitive pay.

“Folks that are raising salaries are raising class sizes above the fourth grade level,” answered Holly Teague. “We’ve tried to keep class sizes low, and when we talk to teachers, that’s what they want.”

Utility costs were also a concern among board members. Paschall called the utility bills a “short- and long-term concern” for the district as utility rates are now one of the district’s largest expense.

“Every cent we pay utility companies is a cent we can’t spend on kids and teachers,” Cron said, adding the district would have to be careful to conserve utilities.

She also spoke of the need to raise public awareness of the school finance system.

“The cost of educating kids requires more resources than ever, and the finance system doesn’t acknowledge that,” Cron said. “We’re going to have to work together to voice our concern about what will happen to public schools ... People cost money and I don’t know that we should apologize for that.”

During the school board meeting, members were also updated on the Roo Stadium renovations and reviewed Weatherford ISD TAKS scores.

Students’ science levels were 10 to 13 points above the state average, and commended scores were up in every subject.

Currently, one in three Weatherford ISD students has reached commended levels in at least one subject.

        

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