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The Burleson ISD school board examined ways to cut costs during a special budget meeting July 14.
Because the school district has grown by about 6 percent in the last several years, making choices that will help Burleson schools now and in the future is key, said Superintendent Mark Jackson.
“Financially, we need to make a good decision this year, and we also have to make it in light of several years down the road,” he said. “We are currently in the stage of processing both needs and wants.”
Ronald Kuehler, assistant superintendent of business and support services for BISD, said personnel costs have been increasing as the district works to maintain a 22-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio while the student population grows.
Kuehler said the district’s budget will probably be short about $3.5 million, about $2.5 million of which is used to fund new teachers. He said much of the shortage can be attributed to the district’s addition of three new campuses.
He said district officials must be “more critical when the legislative session starts” to alert people of their needs, but brainstorming ideas to trim costs is also crucial.
Jackson presented some potential strategies.
“We need to take a look at what’s necessary to get the job done and what is required,” he said.
Acquiring an in-house physician who could treat teachers and students might help prevent teachers from taking sick days when their children are ill, Jackson said.
Measures to reduce the number of substitute teachers needed should be considered as well, he said, suggesting free lunches could be provided for teachers with perfect attendance.
Restricting staff development courses to summer months would also cut substitute costs, he said.
“We need to ask employees for ideas, too,” Jackson said. “This is a time when we want to do the very best we can we the kids, and we need a budget to do that.”
The school board is scheduled to continue discussion on budget matters during a meeting July 28.
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