KATY ISD – At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees Monday night, the Katy ISD administration laid out its plan to reduce staff as a result of the expected shortfall of a projected $50 million in state funding.
Starting Tuesday, 350 employees with Chapter 21 Probationary Contracts will be notified that their employment with the district will be terminated after their 2010-11 contract ends. By law, Texas school districts must notify contract employees 45 days prior to the last day of instruction, which is April 19 for Katy ISD.
Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey equated the $50 million in reduced state funding to a storm brewing in the Gulf. “Estimates in regards to the storm vary from day to day. We don’t know exactly how big it’s going to be, but we do know that we will be hit by this storm. All we can do at this juncture is anticipate the worst, prepare as best as we can, and then hope for the best.”
Dr. Debbie Harris, Katy ISD assistant superintendent for human resources, explained to the Board that district salaries totaled $332.6 million, with $258.2 million being campus-based salaries and $74.3 million being non-campus based salaries. Proposed reductions in campus based personnel would result in $23 to $26 million in savings, with another $10 million in savings from reductions in non-campus based personnel.
The district projected that approximately 550 campus and non-campus based personnel would be let go. However, 224 individuals turned in their resignations, reducing the overall number of terminations to 350. Should the actual loss of state revenue turn out to be less than expected, there is the possibility that some of those laid off will be considered for rehire.
Board President, Judith Snyder, remarked that this was an unprecedented time in the district, caused by forces outside of Katy. “I believe that in the history of this district, however, this has to be the hardest and most painful situation yet. While we have certainly faced complex budget situations before, never before have we faced anything like we are seeing today. Never before has this Board had to contemplate laying off teachers and staff, who through no fault of their own, are the victims of a situation that is not of our creation, but the creation of politicians in Austin.”
During the evening’s discussion, the idea of tapping the districts $80 million General Operating fund balance was brought up. However, Frailey cautioned that the district must be conservative on the use of fund balance.
“Certainly some of the district’s fund balance could be used to help close the projected state funding shortfall,” said Frailey. “However, because the district is looking at a reduction in funding over a two to three year period, and we are not yet sure what the actual Texas budget shortfall will be, we have to be careful in how much is used from the fund balance.”
The Board will take action on the district’s recommendation at the April 18 Board work study meeting.
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