During a special meeting Aug. 11 the Eanes ISD board of trustees discussed the 2015-16 budget and upcoming committees including the Technology Task Force.

Carl Hooker (left) and Bill Bechtol discuss creation of the Technology Task Force with the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees. Carl Hooker (left) and Bill Bechtol discuss creation of the Technology Task Force with the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees.[/caption]

The budget was approved in June, though the board continues to work on potential expense cuts and revenue increases to decrease the deficit.

The board could cut $1.7 million in full-time staffing, a loss of about 37 positions, to lower the deficit to $3.8 million. However, the budget includes $1.3 million in salary and benefits adjustments, which is an approximate 2 percent raise—as well as four additional full-time contingency positions to be filled as needed. Only one contingency position was available in former budget adjustments.

Superintendent Tom Leonard said Eanes ISD has less money for teacher salaries than other districts partly because of decreased state funding, school programs and some policies.

“Some of the programs that we’ve chosen to do, partly because of programs our community wants, are more expensive than programs offered in other districts,” he said. “And in some of these other districts, the staff are teaching six classes instead of teaching five. If your teachers are teaching six classes, you don’t need as much staff.”

Leonard said 11 other districts in Central Texas rank above Eanes in salaries for beginning teachers and teachers with five years of experience. New teachers in Eanes can earn $42,000 annually, whereas new teachers in Austin make just above $44,000 and new teachers can make $45,000 in San Marcos.

Board members also discussed the potentially long commute and high cost of living in the area as concerns for teachers in Eanes ISD.

Leonard said other factors can draw teachers into Eanes, such as healthcare benefits and a positive work environment. He said he hopes soon to offer a more competitive salary as well. The biggest effect of a 2 percent increase would be for teachers with 10 to 20 years of experience, where Eanes already ranks higher.

While the Travis County  assessed value is estimated to provide $900,000 in additional funding for EISD, the Texas Education Agency reduced per capita funding for Eanes by about $800,000. Eanes was one of 70 districts across the state affected by the reduced per capita rate.

The TEA has said it will repay the $800,000 in 2016-17, though some board members were doubtful.

“We were at a $2.7 million deficit, now we’re closer to $3.8. We’re going in the wrong direction,” Leonard said. “Then we realize we can save $100,000 in staffing. Then we get extra enrollment, so an extra $100,000. The numbers are always swinging.”

Leonard said he thinks the final deficit will actually be closer to $3 million, as a result of $300,000-500,000 in various savings throughout the school year and the potential refund from TEA. The recently passed $52.5 million bond cannot be used for salaries, he said.

"But you could use the bond to replace an inefficient air conditioning with a more efficient air conditioner," he said. "The saving in utilities will show up in your budget and you can use that for salaries."

Board Member Ellen Balthazar said she believed the deficit should be primarily for emergencies and hoped to see the planned deficit below $3 million.

The board will continue to discuss potential ways to cut expenses. The final budget should be decided by late September, Leonard said.

The board also discussed upcoming committees, including the Technology Task Force committee, which will focus on ways to improve student learning with technology and the 1:1 initiative to bring iPads into the classrooms. Chaired by Director of Tech Services Ryan Petru and Carl Hooker, director of digital learning and innovation, committee members will be selected through Aug. 25.