Allen ISD Acting Superintendent Kim McLaughlin urged the local business community to “be a voice” for the district during a State of Education event held in September.
McLaughlin highlighted the school district’s recent accomplishments during the event hosted Sept. 23 by the Allen Chamber of Commerce. McLaughlin spoke on a panel alongside Collin College President Neil Matkin and Lovejoy ISD Superintendent Katie Kordel.
McLaughlin spoke on several subjects including Allen ISD’s 2024 bond projects, affordable housing and opportunities for business leaders to be a voice for the school district. She also spoke about the district’s priorities during the upcoming state legislative session, which is expected to start in 2027.
In a nutshell
Allen ISD needs “sufficient and sustainable funding” to carry out state mandates while offering competitive compensation to teachers and staff, McLaughlin said. One of the district’s main focuses in the upcoming legislative session will be on retention and recruitment of teachers and staff, she said.
“It’s really, really important that we are able to provide our teachers with appropriate compensation for them,” McLaughlin said. “We know that education is a people business and it takes a lot of people to run a district.”
Earlier this year, the district board of trustees approved a 2% pay increase from the salary midpoint for district teachers and staff. Allen ISD’s 2026-27 school year budget, adopted in June, accounts for the salary increases and projects a $5.3 million shortfall within the district’s general fund.
Projected revenue is falling by about $4.5 million compared to the original budget adopted for the 2025-26 school year. The projected revenue decrease is partly due to decreasing student enrollment, district officials said.
“We are watching our enrollment decline as well,” McLaughlin said. “[We’re] trying to come up with strategies in order to get people to stay here and get students to come into our district.”
One such strategy is the Allen Advantage program, which enables open enrollment for out-of-district students. Twenty students enrolled in Allen ISD for the spring 2026 semester after the program soft-launched in November.
Now, about 250 out-of-district students are enrolled in Allen ISD schools through the program, McLaughlin said.
Looking ahead
McLaughlin highlighted the district’s recent achievements such as the “A” accountability rating received by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year. She said she was proud of the district’s partnerships with local businesses for the teacher externship program.
She asked the business community to “be present” and “be a voice” for the district and students. The district has opportunities for businesses to come to its schools and mentor its students, she said.
“We need to hear from you so we know where to take our students,” McLaughlin said.
