Austin ISD board members discuss the deadlines and parameters for next year’s budget.[/caption]

AISD starts FY 2017 budget talks

On Sept. 28 the Austin ISD board of trustees took the first step in creating the district’s fiscal year 2016-17 budget by approving deadlines and setting parameters. Rather than approve the budget in late August, the board will approve the budget June 20, and FY 2016-17 will begin July 1. The earlier adoption will align AISD’s fiscal year with its school year, AISD Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley said. The parameters include adopting a balanced budget and maintaining competitive compensation for all AISD employees. On Sept. 21, board President Gina Hinojosa said competitively paying staff means considering affordability in Austin. “While we may not be paying less for classified employees compared to surrounding districts, when you factor in cost of living, we absolutely do,” Hinojosa said. Now that the dates and parameters have been set, AISD administrators will meet with each other, school principals and other stakeholders to discuss priorities and formulate the budget, AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz said.

---

RRISD probes early college HS

Round Rock ISD is exploring a way to let students graduate with both a high school diploma and an associates degree. Michelle Swain, director of Gifted and Advanced Academic Services, and Rebecca Donald, executive director of Secondary Schools, presented an early college high school proposal to the RRISD board of trustees at its Sept. 17 meeting. Swain said the program would allow students who were unlikely to attend college after high school or those who wanted to get a head start to earn a higher-education degree at no cost to the student. The program, in partnership with Austin Community College, would provide academic and social support to the students who were accepted, Swain said. Those accepted into the program would be reflective of the district’s demographics, and a student who is economically disadvantaged could be just as likely to get in as a student with higher test scores. Most trustees expressed interest in moving the program forward. Trustee Terri Romere was the only trustee to speak against the proposal, questioning whether high school students were socially and emotionally prepared for college. Superintendent Steve Flores argued the district was losing students who want this type of opportunity. Swain said she and Donald hope to hire staff for the school by February and begin recruiting eighth-grade students into the program by the spring.

---

Round Rock ISD adopts tax rate

Homeowners within Round Rock ISD will pay more under a new tax rate, which took effect immediately. The RRISD board of trustees voted unanimously Sept. 17 to set the property tax rate at $1.3325 per $100 of property valuation. The rate is actually a $0.005 decrease from last year’s tax rate of $1.3375 per $100 of property valuation. However, because property values have increased since last year’s tax rate was adopted, property owners will pay more in taxes with the lower rate. The Freeport Tax exemption, which the board adopted June 18, took about $6 million from the tax roll. Trustees previously said they expect the exemption to draw more manufacturing businesses to Round Rock in the coming years and boost the local economy. The property tax is used for maintenance and operations of the district’s public schools and to pay for outstanding bonds. Taxes account for more than 76 percent of RRISD’s annual general fund revenue, according to a June 18 budget presentation. The district expects to collect $285.5 million in taxes during fiscal year 2015-16.

---

Construction continues on Elementary School No. 34, which voters approved in 2014.[/caption]

Board ponders new school name

Round Rock ISD will decide on a name for its 34th elementary school by December. Officials expect the new facility at 2800 Sauls Drive to open in time for the 2016-17 school year. The district solicited public input for names Sept. 18-Oct. 2. RRISD trustees tasked a committee with developing a name recommendation. The committee has met twice and is scheduled to hold another meeting Oct. 27. All committee meetings are open to the public. RRISD board policy dictates that new schools may be named for any deceased person of historical significance or for the location of the new school. On Nov. 19 the board of trustees will meet to discuss the committee’s final name recommendations. At its Dec. 17 meeting the board is expected to vote on an official name for the school, said Daniel Presley, the district’s chief of schools and innovation. At an Oct. 15 RRISD board of trustees meeting, Bob Cervi, the district’s chief operations officer, proposed an attendance zone for the new school, which will pull students from Wells Branch and Bluebonnet elementary schools. Public hearings on the proposal are set for Nov. 5 and Nov. 10.