The formation of San Marcos CISD’s 2015-16 budget has begun, and trustees are weighing their options to improve student achievement, including lowering class sizes.

Newly elected trustees Miguel Arredondo, Anne Halsey and John McGlothlin were vocal from the dais at the June 1 meeting, with Arredondo calling for ways to “move the needle” on student performance. Currently the district’s average student-teacher ratio in the pre-K program is 22:1. For grades K-4 the ratio is 24:1, in fifth grade it is 25:1, in middle school it is 27:1, and in high school it is 25:1. The district will consider reducing class sizes so that all ratios remain the same, except grades K-4, which would be reduced to 22:1. Some trustees were curious how much it would cost to staff the district’s elementary schools at a 21:1 ratio. Assistant Superintendent Lolly Guerra estimated that such a move would require 10 additional teachers, and the cost including salaries and benefits would be $500,000. More than 70 percent of students in the district are considered economically disadvantaged, meaning they are eligible for free or reduced meals. To be considered economically disadvantaged, a family of four must make less than $44,123 annually. Trustees also discussed ways the district can work around that challenge. Trustee John Crowley, who works for Dripping Springs ISD, said he hopes the district will look into partnering with Texas State students to provide tutoring to children who are struggling with coursework. “I told [Superintendent Mark Eads], do you know what the difference is between a student failing algebra in Dripping Springs and the student failing algebra in SMCISD,” he said. “In many cases the parent in Dripping Springs is able to afford a tutor for their child, and in many cases the parent in SMCISD is not able to do that.” Also discussed at the June 1 meeting were teacher salaries. Trustees will vote on June 15 for how much of a raise to give the district’s faculty and staff. Teachers in San Marcos CISD have called for a 5 percent raise and $88 increase to the district’s health insurance contribution. Under the scenario with the 5 percent raise and increased health insurance contribution, salaries and benefits for all the district’s employees—by far the biggest expenditure in the budget—would total $52.43 million. Under that scenario the district would have to take $2.67 million from its fund balance, which is projected to have $28.33 million in it by the start of the new fiscal year. Providing only the 5 percent raise would put the salaries and benefits expense at $51.69 million, and the total budget under that scenario would require $1.93 million from the fund balance. A 3.8 percent raise and the increased health insurance contribution would cost $51.82 million and the total budget under that scenario would require $2.06 million from the fund balance. A 3.8 percent increase without the health insurance increase would cost $51.08 million and the total budget under that scenario would require $1.32 million from the fund balance. In forming the initial budget estimates, district officials assumed an 8 percent increase in property values, a 1 percent increase in the student population, a 94 percent attendance rate and a slight increase in federal funding. The district’s schedule for budget discussions is as follows: June 15 – Budget update and vote on salary schedule July 20 – Budget update and vote on proposed tax rate and schedule public meeting to discuss 2015-16 tax rate and budget Aug. 5 – Post notice of proposed 2015-16 tax rate and budget Aug. 17 – discussion of 2015-16 budget and proposed tax rate, adoption of budget and tax rate