The overview
Presented by Susie Lackhorn, NEISD executive director of finance and accounting, the recommendations from the NEISD Efficiency Committee centered around major issues the district is facing due to a variety of factors, such as enrollment, facility upkeep, lower birth rates, rising housing costs, an aging population and staff retention.
Major impacts include:
- Revenue rates flat since 2019
- Declining enrollment
- Lower attendance
- Inflation-rising costs
- Competitive job markets
- Declining interest in teaching
- Past and current enrollment levels
- Financial budgets and costs per student
- Facility conditions and maintenance needs
- Campus capacity utilization
Lackhorn said that part of the issue is that the state’s school funding formula is based on enrollment and hasn’t changed since 2019. Lackhorn noted that due to rising costs through inflation and competition with charter schools, private schools and home schooling, the funding model is no longer adequate.
Lackhorn said that enrollment across the district has declined by 11,000 students, or 17%.
“On a national scale we are also seeing a decline. From 2022-2031, the National Center of Education Statistics projects a 5.5% decrease nationwide for public secondary and elementary enrollment,” Lackhorn said.
The schools were chosen through a variety of factors, including cost per student and the total number of students.
Consolidation considerations also include:
- Maintaining integrity of feeder patterns, if possible
- Consideration of transportation times
- Facility conditions
- Target utilization
By the numbers
Starting from the 2014-15 school year, Driscoll Middle School's student body has declined by 41%, Wilshire Elementary's student body has declined by 43% and Clear Spring Elementary's student body has declined by 27%.
The three schools have a low student body compared to the total capacity of the campus. Driscoll Middle School is currently at 38% enrollment with a capacity of 1,410 students, Wilshire Elementary is currently at 32% with a capacity of 577 students and Clear Spring Elementary is at 55% enrollment with a capacity of 582 students.
NEISD will continue to go through the process of consolidation before the final review by the board of trustees.
Next steps include:
- December to January: the efficiency committee will continue to review a variety of factors, including dual language, physical space review and transportation considerations
- January-February: community and campus meetings
- February: Board review
