Thursday, November 20, 2008

DeSoto ISD to consider $1.4 million in budget cuts

By Daphne Brown of DeSoto TODAY

DeSoto School Boardmembers plan a Dec. 8 vote on what could be the first of drastic financial cuts.

In August, the board approved what it knew to be an $8 million deficit budget because of its most significant employee-pay raise. They approved the budget with the intent of administrators bringing forth cost-cutting measures.

Administrators have begun that process and are developing a list of cuts for the board's consideration over the next months. A total of $1.4 million is suggested in the first-round of reductions, to be used toward the $7.8 million deficit it's currently facing. It included an across-the-board cut to travel.

DeSoto Schools Superintendent Lloyd Treadwell said the cuts are intended to redirect, reduce or eventually eliminate areas the district can do without. Seminars, for instance, that district personnel attend could be limited to every other year instead of annually, he said.

The belt-tightening measures are a result of campus principals and division heads reviewing their budgets with staff with the ultimate goal of reducing the budget without effecting classrooms. Beth Trimble, the district's director of communications, said student learning remains the district's focus.

“This wasn't where they (administrators) arbitrarily went in and made decisions. They sat down with staff and asked ‘What can we do?'” Trimble said after the Nov. 17 budget workshop.

Treadwell said administrators were asked about a month ago to consider where they could make cuts.

“We told principals that we're looking at any way we can reduce without taking teachers or programs away from our kids,” Treadwell said.

Cuts in a second round of reductions could go either way, Treadwell added.

Principals were purposefully not involved in developing the second round of cuts.

“We want them to concentrate on trying to get scores up,” he said. “The depth of the cuts needed in the second round could change significantly if attendance holds or the state legislature makes changes,” he said.

Flat enrollment numbers have dictated campuses encourage parents to get their children to school every day, which calculates into additional federal funds for the district.

If an additional $1 million is cut from the budget in second round, it could lessen the severity of cuts in the third round, which would involve personnel and programs.

Without the cuts, Treadwell said the district might have to ask taxpayers for a tax increase of up to 13 cents. Similar votes in Cedar Hill and Duncanville failed in November.

“We want to prove to voters that we are doing everything we can do not to ask for a tax increase as long as we can,” Treadwell said.

Boardmembers praised staff for the arduous work in reducing their budgets.

Boardmember Dee Trimble said he thought it was great the work administrators had done.

“It looks like we've got a viable plan if we're able to do these things,” Trimble said. “It's a tremendous effort to get test scores up. I wouldn't want you to think we're just up here saying we've got to cut this stuff without appreciating the effort of your teachers, aids and everyone.”

Boardmember Don McKinley said it is important for the district to be completely transparent in getting information about the cuts to the community.

“This is what gets you credibility in terms of financial responsibility and delivering a sound academic product. So for whatever its worth, you have my sincere gratitude for your hard work,” McKinley said.

The board meets in regular session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Meetings are held at the school administration building, 200 E. Belt Line Road in DeSoto. For more information, call 972-223-6666 or visit the website at www.desotoisd.org.

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