EDLD 4342 Week 4 Part 4

I interviewed the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Abraham George, in order to obtain information about the district’s financial system. Mr. George has worked diligently over the past year to provide staff with information on how the current financial situation affects our school district. During the interview I learned that approximately 80% of the school district’s budget is allocated for personnel. I realize that the district has taken steps over the past year to reduce the overall budget. However other than loss of positions through attrition and two change of program non-renewals the district did not cut positions. Attrition in 2011 allowed the district to reduce staffing by 30 positions. We have had numerous meetings to discuss staffing and the needs of each department and school over the next two years. As a position in the district is vacated the district is examining the necessity of replacement. We were even to able to open a new elementary school in august by staffing it with current staff members who were reassigned. The school district has made a concerted effort, in light of the financial situation of the state to review and monitor all expenditures. However, the school board has made a commitment to appropriately staff schools and department by looking at reductions in other areas.

A five percent salary increase would have both positive and negative impacts. Currently as we enter into the world of STARR and leave TAKS many teachers are stressed. Teachers in the classroom continually work hard to ensure that their students achieve the standards that have been set forth. A five percent raise would show these teachers that they are respected and valued.  A five percent raise may improve morale but only for the short term. Studies have shown that money is not a motivator.  A raise may assist the district in recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers. This positive aspect of a raise may be good but must be balanced with other factors. For instance, if a teacher in one district makes $5,000 dollars more than a counterpart in another district but has 5 more students in each class is that a fair trade off?

 Giving a five percent raise in the current financial climate would not be wise. It would cause the district to cut staff, pass another TRE (our golden pennies have already been used so we would have to ask the voter to pass the copper pennies), or dip into the fund balance. These options have been reviewed and are not viewed in the most positive light by the school board at this time. If we used our fund balance we may be able to support a five percent raise for one year but without a clear understanding of what the next biennium will bring it would not be fiscally responsible.