The details
Bryan used a portion of his president’s report time during a special meeting with the school board Oct. 7 to address concerns from the community that the post generated.
“I want to clarify that this idea is just one of many options being considered and discussed by the committee,” Bryan said. “At this point, no decisions have been made regarding any potential closures or changes. We are still in the early stages of evaluating all possibilities, and the community will be kept informed as we move forward.”
A closer look
Bryan apologized to district residents for the concern and panic that the post about the possible closing of Durham Intermediate School may have caused.
“The board is committed to addressing that issue by ensuring that our decision-making process remains open, collaborative and thoughtful,” Bryan said. “Please know that our ultimate goal is to make decisions that best serve our students, staff and the entire Carroll ISD community.”
He encouraged district residents who have concerns or questions to contact one of the school board trustees.
The backstory
Bryan said the BRAC was created to address the lack of funding issues school districts across the state are facing. According to district documents, the state funding formula has not been changed since 2019, despite record inflation since that time.
“Should the 89th Texas Legislature not address the funding needs of our schools, it is crucial that we take proactive steps to balance our future budgets while prioritizing the needs of our students and staff,” Bryan said.
CISD board members unanimously approved the formation of the BRAC in July to study funding shortfalls in the 2024-25 fiscal year and propose recommendations to better allocate resources to achieve district goals. It is composed of approximately 20 members of the community along with board members, principals and other district staff members.
The BRAC’s objective is to present the Carroll ISD board of trustees with the following information:
- A prioritized list of budget reductions
- Options to increase revenue
- A holistic approach to facility efficiency and maintenance
- Competitive compensation for all staff
“All districts in Texas are suffering from a shortfall,” Johnson said. “To think that Texas ranks 42nd in the nation in per student funding and [Carroll ISD] is at the bottom of that, we’ve certainly got some challenges ahead of us.”
