Adding additional staff to keep up with district growth was discussed by the Lake Travis board of trustees at its regular meeting March 20. The total cost for the added teachers would be $2.2 million.

LTISD uses a systematic process to project future enrollment using current and historical information, demographic growth and an area development plan, according to the agenda packet and reiterated by Evalene Murphy, assistant superintendent for human resource services, at the March 20 meeting.

Murphy said senior staffers evaluate staffing and enrollment per classroom and per grade level to determine growth.

“Staff also uses a long-range financial forecast model to determine overall sustainability,” the packet said. “Accordingly, administration recommends the additional staffing due to growth for the 2018-2019 school year.”

The district wants to add 22 more full-time general education teachers, eight more special education teachers and 10 contingency teachers. The approximate annual cost per each of those full-time positions is $55,000.

That number is not the exact amount per hire, rather it is an estimate based on base salary and benefits and will vary for each individual depending on prior experience and other factors.

The funding will come out of the 2018-19 budget, and the new teachers would start in the fall.

“It’s a cost to be one of the fastest-growing districts in the state of Texas,” LTISD Superintendent Brad Lancaster said with a smile.

Consideration of the item will be requested at the April 17 board of trustees meeting.