With another multimillion dollar shortfall expected for 2012–13, Eanes ISD officials are budget planning earlier and identifying areas that can be cut.
Meanwhile, the Eanes ISD board of trustees unanimously voted in December to join a coalition of districts in a lawsuit against the state. The lawsuit charges that the state has not provided adequate funding for schools and has taken away local discretion for districts to raise taxes.
Following a $3.7 million funding reduction for the 2011–12 school year, Eanes ISD is facing a $5 million to $6 million shortfall for 2012–13, according to Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Nola Wellman. The board of trustees will use $4 million out of the fund balance, leaving a remaining shortfall of $1 million to $2 million.
Wellman said a staff reduction will have to be considered to make up the shortfall since personnel salary comprises about 85 percent of the budget.
"In the last few years, we've cut supplies and materials by 10 percent, and we may go with another 5 percent," she said. "But it doesn't yield the significant amount of reductions needed."
The lawsuit contends that the district lacks sufficient funding to provide students with an adequate education.
"We feel that once again sending the message to the state that they need to fund public education at an adequate level is important, and they're not doing that," Wellman said.
Wellman expects the case to make it to court next fall and for the supreme court to accelerate the appeal, likely in spring 2013. She said about half of the Texas school districts will likely join one of the multiple lawsuits against the state over education funding.
"With the increase in expectations in students with the STARR exam supposedly being more rigorous, there's nothing wrong with that, but if you want a higher level for all students, there's going to be a cost associated with that," she said.