Duncanville ISD looks to cut 60 jobs

by Bethany Berry of Duncanville TODAY

Duncanville Independent School District is still feeling the financial shortfall from the October 2008 tax rate election.

In a special session meeting with the Duncanville City Council, Superintendent Alfred Ray described the current financial state of the district.

In the last three years, the district has cut 31 positions and looks to reduce another 58 positions in the 2009-10 school year.

“That's the problem we are facing like any big industry,” Ray said. “And it's impacting our students in some degree.”

Ray said the reductions are a difficult process, but it all comes down to the quality of education.

Last month, school boardmembers agreed, approving a budget proposal for 2009-10 outlining reductions and providing a 5.3 percent increase for teachers.

“We had a salary freeze last year for our employees; no one received a raise,” he said. “We made sure we could make a salary increase for our staff this year.”

To make this increase possible, areas that didn't benefit the students went through “extensive studies and major reductions,” including a $600,000 reduction from administration.

Ray continued by saying he still believes in Duncanville schools. He said he believes that by providing educators with hard work and a competitive salary, teachers will be able to provide students with the best possible education.

The school board met with the Duncanville City Council in a joint planning session. The city is looking at having to make as much as $1 million in budget cuts itself.

Both the city and school district will have further budget workshops as the start of their 2010 fiscal year draws nearer.