 How
We've Cut Costs at Pasadena ISD
Rick Schneider, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Pasadena Independent School district
This school year has witnessed
many school districts across the state making tough budget decisions
to stay out of the red while
meeting student needs. Some of the tough actions initiated include
raising teaching loads for secondary teachers, eliminating administrative
and teaching personnel and implementing a ãparticipating feeä for
students involved in extracurricular activities.
In my district, principals, teachers, administrators and parents
have worked together on campus site-based decision-making teams to
find the least harmful ways possible to cut costs.
Reductions of $7.2 million were made. District buildings including
campuses are now cleaned every other day, thus eliminating fifty
custodial positions. Our year-round elementary magnet program was
eliminated. Central office personnel and costs were reduced. Sixty-seven
secondary teaching positions were implemented and the remaining teachers
now teach six out of seven class periods. Several other cost-cutting
measures were implemented.
Our district, like a number of others, had to make difficult decisions
in order to present a balanced budget. In spite of our deliberate
efforts to make these reductions in concert with our principals,
teachers and parents, negative sentiments certainly surfaced.
And make no mistake - the delivery of instruction has been impacted.
We are not able to provide the same level of education and services
to our schoolchildren due to these budget cuts. School districts
and the children of Texas should not be confronted with these kinds
of circumstances. I am hopeful that our state leadership agrees.
One of the criticisms
of public schools is that they need to become more efficient. However,
I wish more people would really look hard
at the job we are doing in Texas schools. Administrative costs for
the Pasadena ISD are approximately $6 million below the state standard
for a school district our size. Our district makes many purchases
through the Region IV Purchasing Co-op, whereby we combine our purchasing
power with other school districts to receive more return on the dollar.
Our district has joined the ãEnergy for Schoolsä Co-op that has obtained
substantially decreased rates for electricity. We have initiated
these and other actions to become more efficient.
The diversity of our student population - 62% economically disadvantaged,
81% minority and 43 languages served - presents special challenges
in the classroom. The classroom of today is unlike it has ever been,
and that brings significant challenges. Educating today's children
requires more resources. We must be efficient, but we cannot be cheap.
The future of Texas depends upon it. |
