What has C-FB ISD been doing?
We think we can weather the storm because we began preparing our “emergency kit” three years ago for a so-called “perfect storm” in school finance. Over the last three budget years, the district has made serious reductions in its maintenance and operating budget.
I believe right now the school finance issue is like getting ready for a hurricane. Our team has been preparing for the worst-case scenarios of limited school funding arriving on our shore. Based on our long-term sound fiscal management, we are not anticipating major changes in current staffing patterns or signature instructional programs unless the state’s funding reductions are substantial.
In the last three budget cycles, we've closed Montgomery Elementary and moved those students to Dave Blair Elementary. We reduced our pre-kindergarten program from full-day to half-day. By doing so, we closed a pre-kindergarten center and moved pre-kindergartners back to our elementary schools and one pre-kindergarten center. We re-negotiated utility contracts to save money and implemented more energy conservation strategies.
We also increased the number of students in a class at grade five as well as in our middle and high schools. The district has also reduced administrative and other staff positions through attrition and retirements. One of our four strategic objectives focuses on operational effectiveness and that helps meet our goal of "high achievement for all students." We will continue to manage personnel costs through attrition, reassignment and retirements and limit other district costs. As we do all of this, we will maintain high achievement.
Being financially conservative has been C-FB ISD's hallmark. The district was one of the initial Chapter 41 (Robin Hood) districts in 1989. Since that time, the district has focused on finding operational efficiencies to minimize cost and devoting resources to student achievement and services. As a result, C-FB ISD has a fund balance, which an individual would refer to as a savings/investment account. This account will allow the district to weather financial storms much easier.
Although C-FB ISD started preparing for these shortfalls three years ago, we need to join forces with our neighboring public school district supporters. As a united front, we can let our Legislative leaders know public education must be adequately and properly funded on the state level. Decisions made at the state level have impacted the local school district funding.
Although C-FB ISD started preparing for these shortfalls three years ago, we need to join forces with our neighboring public school district supporters. As a united front, we can let our Legislative leaders know public education must be adequately and properly funded on the state level. Decisions made at the state level have impacted the local school district funding.
What can you do?
Write a short letter to your State Representative and your State Senator. Share why you believe in public education. Tell your story from the heart. Let our elected officials know how the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has made a difference, and why funding public education should be a priority during this legislative session. Most of all, be respectful. After you have written your letter, ask your neighbors, friends, and co-workers to share their positive stories about public education with their elected officials and why public education must be a priority in Texas.
To find your Representative or Senator, please visit http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.
We also encourage you to send a copy to cfbinfo@cfbisd.edu. We would like to hear your story about C-FB ISD.
Write a short letter to your State Representative and your State Senator. Share why you believe in public education. Tell your story from the heart. Let our elected officials know how the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has made a difference, and why funding public education should be a priority during this legislative session. Most of all, be respectful. After you have written your letter, ask your neighbors, friends, and co-workers to share their positive stories about public education with their elected officials and why public education must be a priority in Texas.
To find your Representative or Senator, please visit http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.
We also encourage you to send a copy to cfbinfo@cfbisd.edu. We would like to hear your story about C-FB ISD.
Also, visit our Make Education a Priority webpage and resources at www.cfbisd.edu/priority.
We in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District believe in high achievement for all students. We are innovative leaders in learning. We believe that education is critical to the economic future of our community, our state and our nation.
We in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District believe in high achievement for all students. We are innovative leaders in learning. We believe that education is critical to the economic future of our community, our state and our nation.
"Democracy cannot succeed...unless those who express their choice are prepared.
The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education. "
Franklin D. Roosevelt
