WFISD Superintendent ID's Areas to be Evaluated
By: Ryan Robertson
Updated: October 16, 2012
"The simple fact is that, based on our current enrollment, we can't afford to continue to operate indefinitely the number of small, older schools that we currently operate."
The words of WFISD Superintendent Dr. John Frossard at Monday's board meeting.
In addition to explaining to board members the need for the district to award a one time stipend to teachers in lieu of pay raises, Dr. Frossard also identified five areas of operation which he said need to be evaluated to see if the district can save money.
The district, however, is quick to point out even though Dr. Frossard said they can't keep operating all of the school's, there's no plans to close any at this time.
"It was just a matter of letting the community know that those are some areas that we're going to have to look at in order to continue to have a strong foundation," said WFISD Public Information Office Renae Murphy.
In addition to the need for possibly consolidating schools, Dr. Frossard said the district may be overstaffed in certain areas, but he emphasized he doesn't want to see more layoffs or early retirements.
"However, barring a future financial emergency, I will recommend that we recapture the projected savings over time through attrition and not, I repeat not through a reduction in force," he explained.
Dr. Frossard also recommended a re-evaluation of the district's Choice program, and reviewing some proposed cuts by the district's budget action committee made last summer.
"After we conduct program evaluations," said Frossard, "it's likely that at least some of these proposed cuts will be recommended for elimination."
While nothing is set in stone, district officials said these are some of the tough choices which have to be made, since state funding has been reduced and the economy continues to struggle.
"In order to meet higher standards and demands for programs," said Murphy, "and areas in which we need to spend our money, certainly teacher salaries and to be competitive in those areas, we have to look at every area in our district in which we can be efficient."
The words of WFISD Superintendent Dr. John Frossard at Monday's board meeting.
In addition to explaining to board members the need for the district to award a one time stipend to teachers in lieu of pay raises, Dr. Frossard also identified five areas of operation which he said need to be evaluated to see if the district can save money.
The district, however, is quick to point out even though Dr. Frossard said they can't keep operating all of the school's, there's no plans to close any at this time.
"It was just a matter of letting the community know that those are some areas that we're going to have to look at in order to continue to have a strong foundation," said WFISD Public Information Office Renae Murphy.
In addition to the need for possibly consolidating schools, Dr. Frossard said the district may be overstaffed in certain areas, but he emphasized he doesn't want to see more layoffs or early retirements.
"However, barring a future financial emergency, I will recommend that we recapture the projected savings over time through attrition and not, I repeat not through a reduction in force," he explained.
Dr. Frossard also recommended a re-evaluation of the district's Choice program, and reviewing some proposed cuts by the district's budget action committee made last summer.
"After we conduct program evaluations," said Frossard, "it's likely that at least some of these proposed cuts will be recommended for elimination."
While nothing is set in stone, district officials said these are some of the tough choices which have to be made, since state funding has been reduced and the economy continues to struggle.
"In order to meet higher standards and demands for programs," said Murphy, "and areas in which we need to spend our money, certainly teacher salaries and to be competitive in those areas, we have to look at every area in our district in which we can be efficient."
