Reports (posted below and in the right column on this page) have been presented by Associate Superintendent for Business Services Richard Matkin and have included updated budget projections for 2011-2012, a budget planning calendar, information about AEIS (Academic Excellence Indicator System) revenue and expenditure and updates on the next biennium budget process.

Trustees are scheduled to continue budget discussions during work sessions and regular meetings this semester in preparation for adopting the 2011-12 school year budget in June, 2011.

In addition to the links below, visit Advocacy for Plano ISD, our website which provides links to Plano ISD's priorities for the 2011 Texas legislative session, contacts in Texas government, a history of school finance and news source links.

Also, read about a legislative breakfast trustees and Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto held in December, 2010. An additional breakfast was held on January 7, 2011, for legislators unable to attend the December legislative breakfast.

Top

January School Board Meeting

January 18, 2011 -- Trustees Declare Financial Exigency, Vote to Approve Reduction in Force

Trustees declared that a financial exigency exists within the district on January 18 during a school board meeting at which they voted to approve a reduction in force (RIF). The action was taken by the board in response to the difficult economic climate and in anticipation of dramatic cuts in state funding.

"We simply have to make difficult choices as we know we will have less money to spend,” said School Board President Skip Jenkins. “These are tough decisions, but we simply have no choice in the financial realities we are facing in regard to state funding, and it is going to get worse.”

“As Plano ISD works hard to maintain the excellence in education that is signature to the district, we must also brace for significant programmatic reductions,” said Superintendent Dr. Doug Otto.

Initial steps in that direction resulted in reductions estimated at $1.4 million in administration and support services. This reduction is part of the district's overall effort to reduce costs in order to achieve a balanced budget and to be better positioned for the challenges ahead.

Attaining financial stability through continued good stewardship of district funds, while encouraging state legislators to provide financial relief for schools, will remain a focus for Plano ISD.

View board meeting presentation
View board meeting video (Length: 00:41:30)

Top

February School Board Meetings

February 15, 2011 -- Trustees Hear Budget Report on District & State Per Pupil Expenditure Comparisons

At this regular meeting (rescheduled from February 1 due to inclement weather), school trustees heard and discussed a budget report comparing Plano ISD and the state of Texas in per pupil expenditures using data based on the 2009 Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report.
View board meeting video (Length: 29:43)
View presentation

February 22, 2011 -- Trustees Discuss Budget Goals and District-wide Reductions

At their work session, trustees heard and discussed a report regarding biennium budget goals for decreasing the general fund budget by $25 million with the least amount of impact on classroom instruction. Decreasing the current budget capacity, streamlining support services and leveraging operating budget using fund balance over a two-year period were discussed along with a budget calendar and departmental budget reductions for the 2011-12 school year. View presentation

Top

March School Board Meetings / Other Action

March 1, 2011 -- Trustees Hear Legislative Update

At their regular meeting, trustees heard a brief legislative update from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto.

March 11, 2011 -- Trustees and Administrators Meet with State Legislators, Testify before Senate Committee

Members of the Plano ISD Board of Trustees and executive level administrators met with state legislators at the state capitol where they testified before the Senate Education Committee, met privately with lawmakers and participated in activities surrounding the Collin County Days event in Austin. Read full story & related video

March 16 - Superintendent Urges Community to Voice Concerns to State Legislators

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto posted a legislative update on the district website, urging Plano ISD community members to voice their concerns to state legislators about education funding. Read Dr. Otto's message

March 22, 2011 -- Trustees Hold Special Meeting to Approve Second Reduction in Force

Trustees held this special called meeting at which they approved action as proposed by the administration regarding identification of additional employment areas to be affected by a reduction in force (RIF). The employment were listed in the school board agenda and included filled and vacant positions. View agenda on BoardBook

March 29, 2011 -- Trustees Hear Legislative Update and Discuss Impact of House and Senate Budgets

At their March work session, the school board heard a legislative update and discussed financial strategies, budget reduction strategies and key elements by budget function for the 2011-12 district budget. View presentation

Top

April School Board Meetings / Press Conference

April 5, 2011 -- Trustees Review Revenue Estimates

At their regular business meeting, trustees heard a report and discussed property tax values and revenue sources for 2010-11 and estimates for 2011-12.
View presentation
View report video (Length: 00:16:36)

April 7, 2001 -- Area Trustees Host Joint Press Conference in Plano to Address Growing Budget Concerns

At a press conference in Plano, school board members representing Arlington, Cedar Hill, Dallas and Plano ISDs spoke on behalf of public education to media and concerned community members. Read full story and view press conference video

April 19, 2011 - Trustees Hear and Discuss a Peer Review Budget Report Comparing Plano ISD with Other ISDs

At this regular board meeting (originally scheduled as a work session), school trustees heard and discussed a budget report which included a financial analysis of Plano ISD and neighboring school districts based on actual 2009-10 audits detailing several budget functions.
View presentation
View report video (Length: 00:11:31)

Top

May School Board Meetings

May 3, 2011 -- Trustees Discuss Budget Schedule, Financial Strategies and House and Senate Budget Plans

At this work session, trustees heard and discussed the 2011-12 budget schedule, debt service appropriations and projections, employee compensation and benefits, employee benefit reductions and financial strategies. The school board also reviewed the Texas Legislature's House and Senate budget plans. View presentation

May 24 Meeting - Trustees are scheduled to conduct a regular meeting on this date to hear and discuss a final budget presentation and authorize the budget & tax rate hearing.

Top

June School Board Meeting

June 14 Meeting - At this meeting, the school board held a public hearing on the 2011-12 budget. Following a presentation by Richard Matkin, associate superintendent for business services, and, with no speakers from the audience, the public hearing was closed and the regular meeting convened.

During the meeting, the board adopted the 2011-12 Operating, Debt Service, Food Service and Other Funds with transfers to (and from) the Operating Fund as presented. The budget includes total revenues and other sources of $445,539,565 and an appropriation budget of $422,407,818, including recapture.