Budget & Staffing FAQ
Following are answers to frequently-asked questions about Plano ISD's budget and staffing initiatives, including the RIF (reduction in force). For additional information, please review the presentation slides available on this website.
I’ve heard about a budget deficit in Plano ISD. How can the school district have a budget deficit? Most school districts are experiencing budget deficits to a degree due to the failure of the Texas Legislature to provide inflationary increases to district revenues. All school districts have been operating on a fixed revenue income since 2006.
What is Plano ISD doing about it? The school district is committed to redirecting costs to balance the budget, while encouraging state legislators to provide financial relief for schools.
How do you plan to balance the budget? Plano ISD is attempting to generate more revenue by increasing fees, challenging all departments and campuses to decrease budgets, reviewing all staffing allocations and creatively generating additional revenue-building initiatives such as adjusting thermostats and other energy conservation measures.
What is a RIF? A RIF means “Reduction in Force” and is one part of the district's overall effort to reduce costs in order to achieve a balanced budget.
How much money does the district hope to save in building the 2009-10 budget? The district is attempting to achieve a balanced budget through the following three measures:
- a reduction in force,
- staffing reallocations, and
- elimination of central office positions.
The reduction in force initiative and administrative staff reduction is expected to bring $1.5 million in savings to the school district. Also, $6 million in savings are expected due to increasing student to staff ratios, while still maintaining that Plano ISD student to staff ratios are among the lowest in the state.
Didn’t the district recently implement a RIF and retirement incentive option? The school board conducted a RIF in 2004 with the reduction in central office administration by more than 60 staff positions. The same year, the school board implemented an additional cost-saving measure through a retirement incentive package. This option was taken away by the state legislature in 2005 and is no longer allowed under Texas Education Code (law).
What does it mean when class sizes are affected? at elementary? at secondary? Texas Education Code (law) mandates elementary school class sizes in grades kindergarten through four. However, Plano ISD is increasing class sizes in special programs, which have been operating below the state limit. Despite these increases, these programs will still operate below the state limit.
In secondary schools, the student to teacher ratios will increase; however, only due to the number of classes taught. The number of children per class will actually decrease. Secondary staff will be teaching six periods of a seven-period day. This is a change from their current teaching schedule of five periods per day. This will allow more students to be taught by a teacher, thus reducing the number of staff required.
How did you decide that these class-size measures were the right ones to take? The school district has created a staffing model based upon student requirements that fairly addresses needs at campuses while also attending to any areas that may be over-staffed according to standards. The Plano ISD community expects continued program evaluation and the leadership’s ability to make district-wide cuts when necessary.
If you are eliminating some part-time positions, how is it possible to save money by reassigning the person to a full-time position? Part-time contracts are not being renewed for the 2009-10 school year to allow full-time teacher contracts to be honored first. After placement of these teachers, as obligated by contract, some part-time positions may be available.
How will the RIF affect advanced academic programs in Plano schools? In the Elementary Advanced Academic Studies area, a total of 8.5 Discover Program teacher positions are included in the RIF. The Discover Program is an elementary initiative that targets students who demonstrate the capability for increased higher order thinking activities but are not currently participating in the PACE (Plano Academic Creative Education) program.
The district will implement other strategies to identify these students. Teachers who hold these positions are under contract and will have the option to be placed in other existing and available teaching positions in the district. Other Plano ISD teachers will incorporate the Discover Program into their duties to continue providing this instruction to elementary students.
How does Plano ISD’s administrative ratio compare to other school districts? By comparison to other school districts, Plano ISD has maintained one of the lowest administrative cost ratios in the state. Since 2002, the administrative expense has been the same, while the instructional expense has increased by 6 percent.
How are capital bond program funds affected by these budget reductions? There is no impact on bond program funds. Capital projects included in the bond packages include new school construction, renovation of existing schools and implementing new classroom technology initiatives. These funds cannot be used to fund salaries or pay raises.
Will you get any federal stimulus money? The district anticipates receiving federal stimulus money; however, due to the funds being distributed as federal dollars, there will be stipulations and regulations regarding its use. Preliminary information indicates that the stimulus funds cannot be used for current programs.
The value of my property has increased for the last several years. Doesn’t that money stay in Plano ISD? All property tax increases, including approximately thirty-three percent of the district’s current property tax collections, are recaptured by the state. To date, the Robin Hood impact on Plano ISD has been payments totaling over $1.2 billion to the state and reflects a payment of $87 million last year. The Plano ISD website contains a History of Robin Hood site which details information about the impact of the state’s school funding laws on the Plano ISD budget.
Where can I find more information about the proposed 2009-10 budget? A budget informationpage is available on this website which includes a series of presentations regarding the proposed 2009-10 budget. In addition, school board meeting agendas can be viewed online prior to meetings, the public can attend school board meetings and/or view taped school board meetings which air on Plano Time-Warner Cable Channel 99 and Verizon FIOS 33 at 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and at noon on Saturday.
Where can I read school board policy regarding employment and reduction in force? All policies are available for review on Plano ISD Policy Online. Policies specific to employment and reduction in force are: DFF (Local) Termination of Employment: Reduction in Force; and DCD (Legal and Local) Employment Practices: At-Will Employment.
How can I express my opinions about the district’s budget and the public education finance system?
- E-mail - To communicate with Plano ISD, please send e-mails to askpisd@pisd.edu.
- Contact Government Officials - This Plano ISD website contains a list of elected officialsand their contact information.
- Ask School Staff - School principals and other campus administrators can provide information about individual school budgets.
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