Budgetary concerns amplify From the cover
Eanes ISD budget shortfall
The context
Two-minute impact
Budgeted shortfall (June 2024)
Updated shortfall projection (January 2025)
Lower-than-projected enrollment and cuts to federal and state funding have caused EISD’s pro- jected budget shortfall to grow from manageable to unmanageable over the past year, Scott said. According to EISD data, the district has lost nearly 570 students since 2019, which has caused EISD to lose revenue, officials said. Looking ahead, Scott said he is expecting tax- able property values to decrease further, causing revenues to decline by over $2 million per year.
$0M -$2M
The decisions were made in an effort to reduce a projected $6.3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26. District officials said a lack of state funding and declining enrollment has put EISD in a difficult financial position. The closure of Valley View Elementary comes as only 274 students attended the school this year, according to EISD data. Moving forward, the district is making modifications to accommodate more students at Barton Creek Elementary, eliminating a planning period for teachers and considering additional steps to further minimize costs.
-$4M -$6M -$8M -$10M
2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28
Fiscal year
Enrollment over time
The plan
Valley View Elementary
Barton Creek Elementary
Budget reductions
Enrollment at Valley View Elementary, which opened in 1981, has declined by 44% over the last decade, according to district data. In an effort to improve enrollment, the district began offering the SI program at Valley View Elementary last school year and has accepted more transfer students, Superintendent Jeff Arnett said. After merging with Valley View Elementary, Bar- ton Creek Elementary is projected to be the largest elementary campus in the district with around 665 students next school year. While the district will hire more teachers at Barton Creek Elementary this fall, merging the campuses will allow EISD to employ fewer teachers than before, Scott said. EISD officials feel confident that Valley View Elementary teachers who are not hired at Barton Creek Elementary may be reassigned to fill open positions in the district created through attrition, Arnett said.
Confirmed:
600 480 360 240 120 0
$2M savings from blending Valley View and Barton Creek elementaries $2M savings from eliminating Professional Learning Community periods $600,000 savings from eliminating Spanish Immersion program $450,000 revenue increase from raising rental fees and student fees for extracurricular programs
School year
Under consideration:
$4M savings from a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE $1.4M savings from freezing salaries/ reducing stipends Additional efficiencies to offset budget shortfall, if needed
EISD plans to modify Barton Creek Elementary to accommodate more students by: • Opening four portable classrooms using bond funds • Relocating its Child Development Center to a site outside of the campus • Making improvements to the playground • Adding another cafeteria line • Hiring two assistant principals instead of one
SOURCE: EANES ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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