Education
BY HALEY VELASCO
Clear Creek ISD officials discuss future budget challenges, priorities While a budget has not been set for fiscal year 2025-26, budget discussions are beginning as Clear Creek ISD moves toward building its budget for the new fiscal year. What you need to know CCISD’s Chief Financial Officer Alice Benzaia presented the challenges and priorities at the board of trustees’ March 10 workshop. Modifications were made since the workshop and district finance committee meeting, which was held the week of March 24, Benzaia said. The budget challenges and priorities for FY 2025-26 were officially approved by the board at its March 31 meeting.
Clear Creek ISD reviews survey results Clear Creek ISD officials reviewed results of a mid-year accountability survey relayed to parents, guardians and staff members at the board of trustees’ March 10 workshop. The gist The report asked parents and staff members if: • They believed students received a high-quality education at CCISD • Teachers are receiving the student behavior support and training needed Officials also asked those surveyed about the effectiveness of the district’s new commu- nication app, connectCCISD, which is designed to keep parents, guardians and staff informed
Benzaia said she will have a better idea of the budget by late May or early June. However, given questions about funding at the state level due to the ongoing legislative session, Benzaia said it’s a challenge trying to balance it. “I’m very concerned about being able to balance a budget this year when I don’t know what I’m working with,” Benzaia said at the meeting. In the meantime, staff are holding meetings to determine various factors such as enrollment, Benzaia said. What else? While officials say the status of state funding is still not yet known, they believe they will see new funding in the special education allotment from the state. The Texas Education Agency has a tiered level of funding based on the severity and services that individual students receive in special education. Benzaia said if the level of funding changes, it will be a “risk” going into the next fiscal year, as officials won’t know the amount of funding the district will receive for special education.
at both the district and campus levels. The survey received just over 4,200
responses, with over 2,700 parents and guard- ians as well as over 1,500 teachers responding, district officials said.
CCISD budget challenges
CCISD budget priorities
Providing necessary funding and staffing for student improvement and guidance
Declining student enrollment
Strongly agree/agree
Strongly disagree/disagree
Offering competitive pay and benefits for all employees
Rising costs of fuel and insurance
“I receive the student behavior support and training I need.”
Maximizing state revenues and enrollment opportunities
Shortages in bus drivers and speech pathologists
18%
Potential risk of sustainability of current programs in future budget years
Using extra reserves to help offset budget challenges
82%
Looking for cost savings and facility usage
Inadequate state funding
“The new connectCCISD (Parent Square) for my school and district communications is effective.”
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
16%
84%
CCISD OKs $1.7M budget addition for special services Clear Creek ISD on March 31 added $1.7 million to its general fund for the fiscal year 2024-25 budget to address the rising need for speech therapy services for students. The overview Number of students diagnosed with a speech impairment in CCISD 858 1,311
CCISD’s community’s perception of whether the district offers high-quality education* 10.69%
1,500 1,000 500 0
89.31%
CCISD’s Chief Financial Officer Alice Benzaia said the cost to pay for these services exceeds the amount budgeted for them. Students with speech impairments have risen in recent years.
2018-19
2023-24
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
*CCISD DID NOT PROVIDE EXACT WORDING FOR THE SURVEY QUESTION
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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