Last November, the SBISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution pausing the rebuilding of the four remaining elementary schools under the district’s bond programs. The pause allowed time for the district to conduct an updated demographic study and operations efficiency study.
At their Spring Board of Trustees Retreat on April 5, 2024, Associate Superintendent for Operations Travis Stanford presented district administration’s recommendations for unpausing the bond programs.
This presentation followed the Board’s approval of boundary line adjustments at their Regular Meeting on March 25, 2024.
These adjustments included the recommendation that Sherwood, Terrace and Thornwood elementary schools be rebuilt and that Spring Shadows Elementary School not be rebuilt, with students rezoned to Terrace, Pine Shadows and Buffalo Creek elementary schools.
At their Regular Meeting next Monday, April 15, 2024, SBISD Trustees will vote on a resolution to restart and un-pause the bond programs in alignment with the modifications determined to be most effective through the operations cost review and further in alignment with the boundary line adjustments approved by the Board on March 25, 2024.
With this vote, the Board of Trustees will have completed their review and actions related to the Phase I, Phase II and Phase III considerations to close the district’s $35 million budget gap for the 2024-25 school year.
The 2024-25 budget development process continues in accordance with our annual budget calendar. The final budget will be presented for approval at the June 24 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees.
We thank our community for your patience and understanding as we worked throughout this year to address our difficult budget situation. We are not alone. With no new state funding for public education since 2019, districts across our region and the state are announcing budget gaps and are making similar difficult decisions.
The 89th Legislative Session is fast approaching, and our advocacy planning is already underway. Your engagement will be more critical than ever as, together, we work with our elected officials and state leaders to #fullyfundSBISD.
Our children will always be our bottom line. |
