BY MARK FADDEN
The politics
Next steps
• Initiation of detachment: Creation of a new district by detachment is initiated by resolution of the board of trustees of each district from which territory is to be detached or by a petition presented to the county commissioners court. • Election: If the commissioners court determines the petition is valid, each board of trustees shall order an election to be held on the same date in each district. The creation of a new district needs at least 25% of the registered voters of each district to vote in the election to pass.
Jake Kobersky, director of media relations for the Texas Education Agency, said Chapter 13 of the Texas Education Code spoke to the creation, consolidation and abolition of school districts. In order for Keller ISD to split into two separate districts, several requirements must be met: • Minimum area and attendance requirements: A new district cannot be less than 9 square miles or fewer than 8,000 students in average daily attendance, nor can it be reduced to these numbers. If the district had split, the new entities must have met these requirements.
As the district prepares for the 2025-26 school year, projections indicate a $9.4 million budget shortfall. Despite having a fund balance of $47.1 million that could help address this issue, the balance only covers 56% of the TEA’s recommended funding amount to sustain at least three months of operations. At the Feb. 27 board meeting, Chief Operations Officer John Allison detailed what the district could do to prepare for the shortfall, including increasing the student- teacher ratio by an average of 0.5 in middle and high schools. Other avenues include closing elementary schools, which Allison said district officials will discuss next fall.
Keller ISD trustees
Proposed KISD budget cuts
Supported a possible split
Opposed a possible split
• John Birt • Chris Coker • Charles Randklev
• Heather Washington • Micah Young
• Joni Shaw Smith • Chelsea Kelly
Increasing the high school student-teacher ratio by an average of 0.5: $2.38M Reducing district-level positions: $2.13M Cutting transportation for students not within state requirements: $900K Closing down Early Learning Center North and Early Learning Center South: $1M
SOURCE: KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What they’re saying
Pulling money out of different departments: $800K
forthcoming opinion.” Tarrant County Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons spoke out on the issue during the Jan. 30 KISD board meeting and called for a public vote as well. “They elected [the board] to manage this district and not cede [its] power and authority to the county judge and one or two commissioners,” Simmons said.
Fort Worth City Council members Charlie Lauersdorf and Alan Blaylock questioned the legality of the split and got the city involved. Fort Worth City Attorney Leann Guzman sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Feb. 27 to get his interpretation of the situation. “We firmly believe that if a split were to occur, the public has the right to vote on the matter, and the law supports this interpretation,” Blaylock said. “We look forward to the Attorney General’s
Reducing funding for the Keller Wellness Center: $760.5K Increasing the middle school student- teacher ratio by an average of 0.5: $720K
Total: $8.69M
SOURCE: KELLER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KELLER - ROANOKE - NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION
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