EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Austin & Round Rock ISDs
HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN ISD After a payroll processing error made by Austin ISD, some teachers are being forced to pay back a $2,000 stipend payment they received on their June 30 paychecks. The district sent teachers an email July 1 explaining the situation. According to the email sent by Brandi Hosack, AISD chief human capital officer, a processing error led to teachers being mistakenly paid a stipend that was intended only for newly hired bilingual, special education, career and technical education, math, and science teachers. The overpayment will be paid back to the district in either four monthly payments of $500 or one lump sum of $2,000. ROUND ROCK ISD On June 20, the board of trustees approved a cost increase of elementary and secondary lunches 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. NUMBER TO KNOW increased staff pay and higher recapture payment estimates $534.1M The amount approved in June for Round ISD’s fiscal year 2023-24 operating budget with Austin Community College board of trustees Will meet Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 512-223-7613. www.austincc.edu Austin ISD board of trustees Will meet Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. at 4000 S. I-35, Austin. 512-414-1700. www.austinisd.org Round Rock ISD board of trustees Will meet Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 300 Lake Creek Drive, Round Rock 512-464-5000 www.roundrockisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER
Austin ISD passes largest budget shortfall in 6 years AUSTIN ISD Trustees approved a fiscal year 2023-24 budget with a projected $52.25 million shortfall during a board meeting June 22. The shortfall—the largest approved since the 2017-18 school year—was approved to fund staff raises. BY AMANDA CUTSHALL the state will approve more money for the district—ideally an increase in basic allotments. The basic allotment is the amount of money a district can keep per student. PAY INCREASES Austin ISD approved a projected $52.25 million shortfall for the 2023-24 academic year to finance raises. The plan includes:
In case you missed it: Trustees approved a “historic” pay raise at a May 18 meeting, raising salaries for teachers and staff throughout the district. As a result, the district will spend about $53 million of its reserve funds to achieve the raise, effective this fall. The breakdown: The district’s $2.1 billion budget is determined based on enrollment numbers, daily attendance and taxes. Ramos said he anticipates an enrollment of 73,681 students.
$4 -per-hour raises for all classified employees 7% raises for teachers, librarians, counselors, instructional coaches and special education-related positions 5% raises for administrative professionals 3% increase for executive directors and above Above-market-level pay adjustments for licensed specialists in school psychology and educational diagnosticians $7,000 stipends for bilingual and special education staff
What’s happening: After grappling with alternative solutions to reduce the shortfall since Chief Financial Officer Eduardo Ramos’ budget presentation June 2, trustees made the decision to move forward in adopting the proposed budget with an adjustment to add $500,000 to fund six athletic trainer positions in the district. Trustees also decided to circle back early this fall to approve an amended budget with the hope
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
TEA monitoring at RRISD concludes ROUND ROCK ISD Texas Education Agency officials announced in June that its monitoring of the Round Rock ISD board of trustees ended after 18 months. The TEA installed a monitor for RRISD in September 2021, announcing in December of that year the assignment of for- mer Carroll ISD Superintendent David Faltys to the district. BY BROOKE SJOBERG
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. Board President Amber Landrum said June 22 that the decision is the culmination of a “long journey” and echoed Azaiez’s sentiment regarding the work of the board.
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.
DISTRICT MONITORING
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
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