The board of trustees discussed the district’s budget recommendations for the upcoming 2023-24 school year at its Feb. 13 meeting.
“We're really excited about being able to report out our budget in a way that fully aligns with our strategic objectives,” Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Kimberly Smith said in a meeting presentation.
The three biggest factors influencing the budget are FISD enrollment, the overall economy and state legislation, Smith said. Since the state Legislature is still in session, the amount of funding public schools receive could change before the FISD budget is approved.
“We don’t know what form that money will come in,” Smith said.
A portion of the budget will be set aside for new teachers hired to meet the needs of high enrollment across the district, Smith said.
“We've opened two campuses and added 213 new staff just to accommodate enrollment growth,” Smith said.
More than $1 million of the upcoming budget will be designated for new full-time teaching positions across the district, according to the presentation.
The district also has plans to open more campuses for the upcoming school year as well. Unlike past years, enrollment in FISD schools could decrease, Smith said.
“We're anticipating less than 1000 new students per year going forward,” Smith said.
FISD board members will continue to meet and discuss the budget up until the summer, and a public hearing and special meeting to approve the budget will be held in June.
A budget workshop meeting for the board is planned for May.
More information about FISD can be found at its website.
Editor’s note: The budget discussion was presented by Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Kimberly Smith.
