The Duncanville ISD Board of Trustees hosted a work session on June 22, 2020. Due to the current nationwide health pandemic, district facilities and schools remain closed.
The Duncanville ISD Board of Trustees hosted a work session on June 22, 2020. Due to the current nationwide health pandemic, district facilities and schools remain closed. The presentation for the budget workshop may be viewed using the following link - here.
The Duncanville ISD Board of Trustees must approve a budget prior to June 30 to maintain a fiscal year of July 1 through June 30. The trustees are expected to hold a budget hearing on Monday, June 29 in order to adopt the 2020-2021 budget.
Employee Compensation
Based on the anticipated revenue, an unpredictable financial environment related to the Covid-19 health pandemic as well as the upcoming legislative session, district leaders are exercising a great deal of caution regarding expenditures.
In last year’s budget, the school board provided pay increases for all employees. Starting teacher pay increased to $53,000. Salaries for teachers with one to five years of experience increased by $2,200. Teachers with more than six years of experience, as well as librarians, counselors and nurses received an increase of $2,300. All other employees received a 3-percent pay increase at their midpoint pay scale plus some also received pay scale adjustments recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards.
For the 2020-2021 budget, the board discussed various options associated with a one-time stipend for all employees. Board members discussed multiple dollar amounts for a one-time payment and charged the administration with researching options to use a fund balance to finance the one-time payment. That information will be presented to trustees at the next week’s meeting.
In addition, to curb the increased costs of medical benefits the district is considering increasing its monthly insurance contribution by $19 a month, which is the equivalent of $261,516 based on the number of employees utilizing district insurance.
Adjusts to Vacant Staffing to Provide More Campus Support
Through attrition and reallocating vacant positions the district is able to address critical needs to the campuses. Those areas include: approximately a dozen office clerks for elementary and middle schools, a PEIMS specialist at Duncanville High School and a security monitor for each middle school. The board also discussed expanding the social emotional initiative launched last year to include social workers and social emotional counselors to target specific campus needs.
COVID-19 Preparations and Budget Planning
With the continuing trend of the health pandemic, the trustees supported budget plans that reflect a priority on additional technology devices for students and staff. As the district prepares for school reopening in August with virtual learning as well as in-person instruction, there’ll be a higher need for computer devices for students and instructional support for teachers in addition to more cleaning supplies and products, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety items for students and staff.
Decisions on the 2020-2021 budget are scheduled to be discussed further and considered for a vote at a special board meeting on Monday, June 29.