Cy-Fair ISD pinpoints budget cuts for 2010-11

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District officials have pinpointed $10 million in budget cuts for the 2010-11 school year.
That proposed budget, which the Cy-Fair ISD school board will vote on in April, includes a pay increase for all employees 5.5 percent for teachers and 5 percent for all other employees and could be funded without a tax rate increase or the elimination of the district's residential homestead exemption, said Stuart Snow, Cy-Fair ISD's associate superintendent for business services.
Snow said additional budget goals were to minimize the impact on employee positions; to provide resources for the opening of two new elementary schools and the additional 2,700 new students expected in the fall; and to provide additional funding for the employee health insurance plan.
He said that, after seven months of analysis by district employees, input from various community and business groups and budget cut suggestions submitted in more than 900 e-mails, the staff arrived at a balanced $711 million operations budget.
The changes that will result in budget reductions, which will be implemented if the board approves that budget, include:
The shift of all schools in the district to the special education In-Class Support" model, which means that students with disabilities will be supported by special education support personnel in general education classrooms. Currently, some schools use the Co-Teach" method or a combination of the two methods.
The implementation of a revised teaching schedule at the secondary level, which will have teachers instructing students in six out of seven class periods with one conference period; as opposed to the current teaching schedule of five out of seven periods.
An increase in the square footage that each district custodian will be responsible for maintaining from 26,000 to 30,000 square feet.
A reduction in the number of custodial and parts specialist employees through attrition (employee resignations and retirements).
A move from a three-tier to a four-tier bus schedule, which means that there would be changes to schools' start and end times to accommodate a high school bus run, a middle school bus run and two elementary bus runs. A decision has not yet been made as to the start times for each level.
The elimination of the district's Drug Abuse Resistance and Education program, which is taught in fifth grade.
The food service department will reimburse the general fund for electricity and maintenance costs, because that department is funded through a separate source.
Snow said the district will also reduce spending in several other areas.