BY CHLOE YOUNG
Per student funding vs. cost in Liberty Hill ISD
The approach
Zooming out
The four-day school weeks are intended to relieve stress for teachers by allowing them more time to plan lessons, Snell said. A recent TEA report found that some stu- dents performed lower with four-day school weeks compared to the traditional calendar; however these differences were sometimes small and statistically insignificant, according to the study. Some parents shared concerns about how they would care for their children on Fridays, Chief of Schools Travis Motal said at a Feb. 18 board meeting. Rachael Dunn, a Liberty Hill resident and Round Rock ISD employee, will open Panther House Friday School this fall to help meet those needs, she said. The district’s budget challenges have highlighted the importance of the Liberty Hill community uniting to support its students and teachers, Dunn said. “I’m hoping that it is something that the whole community can kind of rally around schools and teachers and have opportunities for where there [can] be more support,” Dunn said.
District officials have expressed frustration over the state not increasing its basic allotment of funding per student at $6,160 since 2019. LHISD is advocating for at least a $1,000 increase to the basic allotment along with increased funding for the fast-growth allotment, special education, and safety and security, Snell said. House Bill 2 by Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, would raise the basic allotment by $395. Wilson said he is advocating to remove a cap on the fast-growth allotment that would allow districts like LHISD to further invest in construction and expanding classrooms. The state should readdress how it funds public schools by expanding the percentage of school funding it covers for districts and limiting districts’ reliance on local property taxes, Wilson said. In February, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 26 to provide teachers raises in their third and fifth years of teaching. SB 26 would not apply to around 30% of the district’s teachers that have under three years of experience, Snell said.
Funding
$8,972
Actual cost per student
$10,040
$0 $2K $4K $6K $8K $10K $12K
“I think the state is trying to make an effort to increase funding for public education,” Snell said. “It’s just what they have proposed is not enough, and they have plenty of money.” Efforts to raise school funding failed following four special sessions in 2023. Additional funding was tied to an unsuccessful attempt to pass an education savings program that would’ve allocated public dollars for private school tuition. In early February, the Senate passed a $1 billion proposal for education savings accounts that is headed to the Texas House.
Going forward
“It’s going to be a real struggle next year. The focus is going to be taking care of our employees
The district may consider another phase of budget cuts depending on property value growth and action from the Legislature, Snell said. LHISD is projecting a 10% increase in property values but will receive its preliminary estimates in April and certified property values in July.
LHISD is now rewriting job descriptions and interviewing for positions that have been impacted by the cuts, Snell said. The district does not anticipate needing to lay off any staff members but may assign employees to other positions, he said.
when we know the burden that they’re going to be under.” FORMER SUPERINTENDENT STEVEN SNELL
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