HISD District II Trustee Rhonda-Skillern Jones will discuss the district’s 2018-2019 budget during a community meeting for Oak Forest Elementary School and Frank Black Middle School families at 5 p.m. at Frank Black Middle School (1575 Chantilly, Houston 77018).
Category Archives: Budget
HISD Board of Education approves contract for construction of four Harvey-damaged schools
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a construction contract for the rebuilding of four elementary schools — Braeburn, Scarborough, Kolter, and Mitchell — severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
Trustees authorized district officials to negotiate and execute a Construction Manager-At-Risk — more commonly known as CMAR — contract with Satterfield & Pontikes Construction. A CMAR contract requires the contractor to commit to completing a project within a guaranteed maximum price. Though that price has not yet been negotiated, the agenda item states that the total cost of the project is not to exceed the project budget. Continue reading
District facing $208 million budget shortfall
Financial impact of Harvey and recapture creating deficit for 2018-2019 school year
As HISD begins to prepare a budget for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, the district is estimating a $208 million shortfall as result of the financial impact of Hurricane Harvey and recapture.
HISD has seen a decline in student enrollment and is planning for a further decline for the coming school year, which will mean a decrease in state funding. The district also anticipates the storm will have a significant impact on the city’s property values, which will be released in April 2018. HISD’s main source of funding is property tax dollars. To date, the district has received no indication of how much and when they’ll be reimbursed for Harvey-related expenditures.
Click here for a complete FAQ on HISD’s 2018-2019 budget. This document will be updated frequently.
These factors, combined with the district’s 2018-2019 recapture payment, is creating an estimated $208 million deficit and is requiring HISD to make difficult choices about how funds will be allocated at the school and district level for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. Continue reading
HISD Board of Education to consider policy reinforcing wraparound services commitment
Wraparound services are key part of Achieve 180 plan to support and empower struggling schools
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education tonight will consider a policy designed to reinforce the district’s commitment to providing students with wraparound services to better support their social and emotional needs outside the classroom.
The proposed policy – titled Student Welfare: Student Support Services – outlines the board’s belief that wraparound services are rooted in strong communities and directs the superintendent to develop the framework for implementing community-based services.
The services are designed to address critical issues such as mental health, physical needs, food insecurity, violence at home, parent incarceration, and legal and crisis support. Continue reading
HISD Board of Education approves 2017-2018 school year budget
Proposed budget includes almost $49 million for salary increases, $2.2 million for special education
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a 2017-2018 school year budget that includes almost $49 million in salary increases and $2.2 million for special education.
The salary increases are designed to ensure the district is providing all employees with a competitive and livable wage, while the special education funding is designed to provide that department with essential additional resources. Continue reading
HISD Board of Education to consider proposed 2017-2018 budget during Thursday meeting
Proposed budget includes $48.6 million for salary increases, $2.2 million for special education
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider a proposed 2017-2018 school year budget that includes $48.6 million in salary increases and $2.2 million for special education.
The salary increases are designed to ensure the district is providing all employees with a competitive and livable wage, while the special education funding is designed to provide that department with essential additional resources. Continue reading
HISD superintendent discusses equity, district’s vision during forum with African-American community leaders
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HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza told African-American community, business, and civic leaders on Tuesday that HISD is prioritizing equity in the district and proposing a plan, called Achieve 180, to target 32 underserved schools with extra supports and funding.
Carranza outlined his priorities for the coming year during a one-on-one interview with Houston Defender Publisher Sonceria Messiah Jiles, part of the Defender’s “Conversations and Coffee” series. Continue reading
HISD supports House Bill 21 to increase funding for all schools and lower Recapture payments statewide
Bill would reduce HISD’s 2018-19 biennium recapture payment
The Houston Independent School District supports House Bill 21, which passed the Texas House of Representatives April 20 and would lower HISD’s Recapture obligation providing approximately $40 million in additional resources for the 2018-19 biennium.
Houston voters go to the polls on May 6 to decide how to pay this year’s Recapture obligation of $77.5 million. Proposition 1 asks voters whether they want to “purchase attendance credits.” A vote for means HISD will write a check to the state, while a vote against would result in the state’s detachment and reassignment of the district’s most valuable commercial property. Early voting begins April 24, 2017, and ends May 2, 2017. Continue reading
HISD board to receive overview of financial impact of recapture and detachment of commercial property on district
The Houston Independent School District Office of Budgeting and Financial Planning will make a presentation on the financial impact of recapture and detachment of commercial property on the district to the HISD Board of Education during the board’s monthly meeting on Thursday.
Last month, the board voted to call a May 6 election to ask voters if the district should pay its recapture obligation to the State of Texas by sending lower recapture payments to the state or through detachment of commercial property in July.
HISD names new chief financial officer
The Houston Independent School District has selected Rene Barajas as the district’s new chief financial officer.
Dr. Barajas currently serves as deputy superintendent and chief financial officer of the Garland Independent School District, with more than 20 years of central administration experience in public schools. He has eight years of experience as a chief financial officer.
He previously served as an assistant superintendent for business and support services for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District as well as a business manager and internal auditor for other public school districts in Texas.