At the Tuesday, February 27 meeting, School Board Trustees approved measures allowing the Mansfield ISD Administration to consider a potential Reduction in Force. Due to board policy, trustees must first approve a Reduction in Force and specific areas to be considered for the process to begin. Essentially, the board authorized the administration to look at all personnel areas within the District.
Associate Superintendent Lou Spiegel informed the board that these program changes, and any potential Reduction in Force, are the result of the Mansfield ISD's challenge to meet our state required Maintenance and Operation (M&O) tax rate of 97.8 cents for the 2007-08 school year. This is a significant change from the current M&O tax rate of $1.29 and the 2005-2006 rate of $1.407. The new tax rate regulations were issued by the State with no additional funds available for Districts. Mansfield ISD will also see no additional increase in tax funds from rising property values this year due to new state regulations.
“Current State funding will just not be enough for us to operate without making some tough decisions to meet next year's budget,” said Vernon Newsom, Mansfield ISD Superintendent. “The bottom line is that we have to develop a formula where we adequately staff schools in the coming school year, which may require reducing staff from our existing model.”
The board instructed the administration to look at all areas of operation, as well as Personnel costs. Approximately 85 percent of the District's Operational Costs are Personnel costs, so programmatic staff changes are required to save substantial money within the District's operation budget.
Trustees also shared that they have received several questions relating to new construction and our current budget concerns. The bond funds that pay for all new construction in the District are strictly used for construction and related items. The M&O Budget pays for daily operational costs of the District which includes Personnel Costs.
The next step in the process will be for the Administration to recommend any potential Reductions in Force to the School Board at the March 27 meeting. All impacted MISD staff will be formally notified by their supervisors following the board meeting. |
