Tomball ISD board to adopt 2020-21 budget, hear fall 2020 plans

The Tomball ISD board of trustees is expected to approve its fiscal year 2020-21 budget Tuesday, June 9, and hear a report Monday, June 8, about the district's plans for the fall semester following the coronavirus pandemic, according to meeting agendas.

In May, Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora gave a brief pandemic update, announcing meal distribution would continue through June and the district could revise its 2020-21 academic calendar in light of the pandemic, which caused school facilities to be closed since mid-March and districts across the nation to move to e-learning methods.

The Texas Education Agency released guidelines May 7 about possible adjustments school districts could consider making to the 2020-21 calendar in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize anticipated disruptions, such as a potential increase in absence rates, as Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

On May 28, nearby district Spring ISD became one of the first districts to approve a revised 2020-21 calendar, which includes intersessional breaks and runs Aug. 17, 2020, to June 25, 2021.

In May, Salazar-Zamora said she would share a more detailed report in June with the board of trustees about the reopening process for the district, as Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

The agenda for the TISD board's workshop meeting June 8 includes Salazar-Zamora giving a report on the fall 2020 plan.

Chief Financial Officer Jim Ross will host the district's second budget workshop June 8, according to the meeting agenda. Trustees previewed the proposed $157.7 million general fund budget during the May 11 meeting and will get a second presentation June 8.

After trustees discuss the budget a second time, a public hearing is slated for June 8, during which community members residing in TISD can weigh in on the district's proposed budget.

The June 8 workshop begins at 5:30 p.m. and is accessible by phone or by Zoom video conference. Details on how to tune in can be found here.

Following the workshop and public hearing, trustees are expected to vote June 9 to adopt the FY 2020-21 budget, among other items. The June 9 meeting also begins 5:30 p.m. and can be accessed remotely.