EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Clear Creek ISD & Texas
QUOTE OF NOTE
Clear Creek ISD to ask for public feedback on $600M bond CLEAR CREEK ISD Six years after voters approved a nearly $500 million bond for Clear Creek ISD to upgrade its facilities, district officials are eyeing another similar request—this time to the tune of at least $614 million. BY JAMES T. NORMAN VARIOUS OPTIONS Clear Creek ISD is considering three options for a potential bond for a variety of facility improvements that, if approved, could be split into multiple elections. Ballot in November Ballot at later date
HIGHLIGHTS CLEAR CREEK ISD A committee for Clear Creek ISD determined the district has the protocol and law enforcement needed to meet the state’s new provisions with House Bill 3, which brings a host of requirements to school districts in the name of safety and security. Some of those include certain safety protocols, armed officers at campuses and mental health training. With the district’s number of officers as well as some campuses’ proximity to police departments, the district is able to have law enforcement at each of its schools throughout the day, officials said at a July 10 workshop. CLEAR CREEK ISD After discussing a new potential bond and voter-approved tax rate election at its June meeting, Clear Creek ISD is launching a campaign, titled “Power of Pennies,” aimed at informing the public about the district’s finances and why it is putting requests forward for more money. Paired with that is a series of meetings and hearings for the public to provide feedback. Meetings began in July but will also include a few in early August. TEXAS A new bill passed by the state Legislature will reward community colleges with funding for outcomes and performance. Community college officials in the Houston area called the bill the most significant funding bill for community colleges in the last 50 years. Along with changing the funding mechanisms, it will dole out nearly $700 million to help the state’s 50 colleges with the transition to the new system, which will go into effect Sept. 1. Clear Creek ISD will meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 and 28 at 2425 E. Main St., League City. Meetings are streamed at www.youtube.com/@ccisdtv. MEETINGS WE COVER “WE GIVE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUT IN ORDER TO MEET OUR EMPLOYEES’ NEEDS AND STAY COMPETITIVE, AND THEN WE TAX WHAT IS NEEDED TO COVER THAT. IT’S NOT THAT WE HAVE ALL THIS EXTRA TAX REVENUE, SO LET’S START INCREASING SALARIES.” SCOTT BOWEN, CLEAR CREEK ISD TRUSTEE, ON SALARY INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES
$379M
$231M
TOTAL: $627M
TOTAL: $625M
TOTAL: $614M
The big picture: At a June 26 meet- ing, CCISD trustees gave the go-ahead for district officials to start seeking public feedback for a potential bond to be used for infrastructure and technology improvements. A new Facility Advisory Com- mittee developed in the spring was tasked with recommending a list of projects and suggested a litany of school upgrades, repairs and equipment, which would total more than $600 million, according to a preliminary report issued by the committee June 12. District staff pitched a few possible
$248M
$394M
OPTION 2
OPTION 1
OPTION 3
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
options for splitting the bond across multiple elections. The cost of each option varies due to various projects being deferred, which drives up their cost, Chief Communications Officer Elaina Polsen said. Trustees decided in a 4-3 vote to present constituents with all three options during public feedback.
Clear Creek ISD could hold tax rate election to plug budget shortfall Public meetings were planned for July 18, 20 and 27, including a phone survey, and a few more meetings are planned for August. The feedback gathered will be brought to the board in August with the potential call for an election on Aug. 21. Next steps: District officials will begin seeking public feedback on the bond, Polsen said.
CCISD employees to receive raise
KEEPING COMPETITIVE
Regarding teacher salaries, Clear Creek ISD exceeded the market median in every five-year teaching category for the 2022-23 year. Clear Creek ISD Market median Teacher salaries
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
CLEAR CREEK ISD Staff and teachers at Clear Creek ISD will receive a pay increase after the board approved a new compensa- tion plan for the upcoming school year at its July 24 meeting. The overview: According to district documents, the new salary plan will include: • A 1% increase for teachers for each year on the pay scale and a $600 increase to the minimum salary, raising it to $60,600 • A 1% increase for all professional and administrative staff • A 2% salary increase for nonex- empt staff • Market and stipend adjustments for other employees The plan passed unanimously. What else?: Clear Creek ISD ranked near the top in teacher salary com- pared to other districts in the area for fiscal year 2022-23, according to district documents. Among 13 districts in the area,
CLEAR CREEK ISD A short- fall—and a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE—could be in the cards for Clear Creek ISD as officials move closer to approving its budget. What you need to know: Clear Creek ISD’s board approved its budget assumptions and goals for fiscal year 2023-24 at its June 26 meeting. These assumptions and goals set the param- eters for how district officials develop the budget in the coming months. One of those assumptions includes voters approving a VATRE, which could be a difference in $17.4 million in revenue. If approved, the district's bud- get would break even. If it fails, the district could be faced with a $17.4 million shortfall. The details: Before the district can hold a VATRE in November, officials will need to approve a new tax rate that goes beyond the maximum threshold set by the state.
Starting teacher salary $60,000 $59,600 5 years teaching
$62,270 $62,098
10 years teaching
$65,322 $64,909
15 years teaching
$68,375
$65,879
20 years teaching
$71,428
$68,675
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
CCISD paid above the market median for every five years a teacher was employed. The
district’s rank improved the longer a teacher was working, according to district documents.
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BAY AREA EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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