FISD June 2012 Newsletter

After swearing in new trustee Chris Todd and re-elected board members John Hoxie and Brenda Polk, the board reorganized its leadership. Renée Ehmke was nominated and approved as board president; she has served as vice president the last four years. Dan Mossakowski was nominated and approved as board vice-president; he has served as board president the last four years. Anne McClausland was nominated and approved as board secretary and replaced the "acting" secretary Keri Miller, who had assumed the position on a temporary basis after the departure of Laura Ellison in March. Ms. Miller filled the position on a temporary basis until the board elections were complete and reorganization of the board took place. Additionally, Dan Mossakowski was nominated for the EDC position replacing Richard Beaver in that role, while John Hoxie was nominated for the TIF Board position also replacing Richard Beaver.

Mr. Doug Zambiasi and Dr. Rick Reedy honored Ms. Karen Sadler for her years of hard work and service in Frisco ISD. Ms. Sadler began in transportation 19 years ago when the district had eight buses and no crossing guards. In 1998, she assumed the role as Director of Transportation when the district had 28 buses and two crossing guards. At this time, Frisco ISD has 263 busses and 133 crossing guards. Mr. Zambiasi applauded Ms. Sadler's "can do" attitude at a time of enormous growth for FISD.

The Frisco ISD board of trustees adopted a $321,550,000 budget at their regular meeting on Monday, June 18.

The budget represents a $20 million increase (6.7 percent) compared to the current year actual budget. The increase in expenditures is necessary to meet the needs of almost 3,000 new students (7.3 percent increase), to meet the costs of opening 4 new schools ($14 million) and to provide a three percent of midpoint increase in salary for employees ($6.6 million). Salaries were frozen last year, with teachers receiving a two percent of midpoint increase in the previous year.

This budget is based on revenue that includes a four cent increase to the maintenance and operations tax rate, which will generate $6.6 million. The current tax rate for M&O is $1 per $100 of assessed value. Frisco ISD is one of less than 10 percent of the districts in the state that are not yet at the $1.04 cap (without holding an election). The district has been at the $1 rate for the past four years.

In order to meet this budget, cuts of $8 million that were realized in this past year will be moved forward in this next budget year. Savings were realized in a variety of ways, such as moving to the triple routing of buses, reducing grounds maintenance schedules, reducing utility costs and hiring fewer teachers for growth, which has resulted in increased class sizes. Additional revenue sources, such as modifying the after-school care contract, among others, resulted in about $2 million in additional revenue to offset pressure to the operating budget.

FISD received $14 million less state funding in the 2011-12 school year compared to the previous year funding levels. In this second year of the biennium, the district will receive $17.4 million less compared to the old funding levels.

The Board will not officially adopt the tax rate until the August or September board meeting when the certified values are available. On a home valued at $261,000 last year and this year, after subtracting the $15,000 homestead exemption, a four cent tax rate increase would represent a $98.40 annual tax increase, or around $8 a month. When residents turn 65 they can apply for the over-65 exemption through their appraisal district and have their tax bill frozen. The tax rate for the debt service payment, the I&S tax rate, is not proposed to change from 42 cents. During the opportunity for citizen input on the budget and the proposed tax rate, two citizens spoke against the increased budget and two spoke in favor.

Parents will receive their "snapcode" again this summer in late July/early August, which will allow you to register your students for the 2012-2012 school year online. We'll be communicating more as the time approaches, but expect it to arrive in that timeframe to get your student registered. Frisco ISD will also have labs available for those who need access to the internet or other support.