EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from local schools
NUMBER TO KNOW The percentage of Leander ISD’s annual expenditures that will go toward staff payroll in fiscal year 2023-24 88%
TEA monitoring at Round Rock ISD comes to an end ROUND ROCK ISD Texas Education Agency officials announced in June that it ended monitoring of the Round Rock ISD board of trustees after 18 months. Board President Amber Landrum said June 22 that the decision is the culmination of a “long journey” and echoed BY BROOKE SJOBERG
HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN COMMUNITY
Azaiez’s sentiment regarding the work of the board. TEA monitors report on the activities of the board of trustees or the superintendent. According to RRISD documents, a complaint against the district from October 2019 said previous board President Chad Chadwell did not recuse himself from discussion about a grievance against himself, alleging a conflict of interest and board overreach. Neither the district nor Faltys issued a report explaining the end of the TEA monitoring process. However, Faltys’ monitoring report from April 2023 states the board had to demonstrate improvement in communication as well as implementation of its grievance process.
COLLEGE The college hosted a series of public forums June 27-29 with the three finalists for the system’s new chancellor to prepare for ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes plans to retire in August. LEANDER ISD The board of trustees approved new attendance zones for secondary schools June 8. The students to be rezoned will begin at their new campuses in the 2024-25 school year. Middle school students going into eighth grade as well as juniors and seniors in high school will have the option to remain at their zoned campus if they complete a transfer request and provide their own transportation. ROUND ROCK ISD On June 20, the board of trustees approved a cost increase of elementary and secondary lunch from $2.80 and $3.05 to $3 and $3.25, respectively, for the 2023-24 school year. Prices for breakfast, adult meals and meals for students qualifying for the federal reduced-price lunch program will not increase. Austin Community College board of trustees will meet July 24 and Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin. 512-223-7613. www.austincc.edu Leander ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 10 and 24 at 6:15 p.m. at 300 S. West Drive, Leander. 512-570-0000. www.leanderisd.org Round Rock ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 300 Lake Creek Drive, Round MEETINGS WE COVER
The TEA installed a monitor for RRISD in September 2021, announcing in December of that year the assignment of former Carroll ISD Superintendent David Faltys to monitor the district. In a June 16 news release from the district, Superinten- dent Hafedh Azaiez said he is grateful for the presence of the monitor over those months. The decision to end monitoring is a “reflection of the collective work of the board of trustees” to improve its practices and service to the community, he said in the release.
District monitoring
The events that resulted in the Texas Education Agency assigning a monitor to Round Rock ISD occurred in 2019 and impacted board operations for over 18 months.
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
October 2019 : A complaint alleging conflict of interest and board overreach is submitted to the TEA.
Sept. 15, 2021 : TEA installs monitor at RRISD.
December 2021 : Former Carroll ISD Superintendent David Faltys is assigned to monitor RRISD.
March 6, 2023 : Round Rock ISD officials begin working on development of an exit plan with TEA officials.
June 16, 2023 : The TEA announces its
monitoring of the district has ceased.
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
LISD budget includes 4% staff pay raise, $6.5M projected shortfall
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Recapture payments to the state will make up 12% of expenditures, or $57.87 million. The budget also includes a 4% raise for all district staff, costing the district $12.75 million, along with a projected fund balance shortfall of $6.5 million. Quote of note: “With very little new revenue from the state, we are excited to be able to bring this
budget to the board,” Chief Finan- cial Officer Pete Pape said. What else? The LISD board also approved the debt service and child nutrition budgets. The budget’s revenue is based on a lower property tax rate of $1.2644 compared to FY 2022-23’s tax rate of $1.2746 per $100 property value. The board will adopt the tax rate by September.
LEANDER ISD On June 15, the board approved the fiscal year 2023-24 budget, which includes $32 million more allocated for payroll than last year. The gist: LISD is expecting nearly $491 million in revenues in the FY 2023-24 general fund and $494.6 million in expenditures.
Rock. 512-464-5000. www.roundrockisd.org
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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023
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