DISD Budget is up For Board Approval on Thursday
DISD held its last round of town hall meetings about the 2012-2013 budget last night. And on Thursday, it’s up for trustees’ approval.
The proposed $1.16 million budget (warning: mammoth PDF) is about $23 million tighter than the current one, and reflects roughly $38 million in estimated state funding cuts. Cost savers — or casualties, depending on where you’re standing — include the closure of 10 low-enrollment schools in light of five big new ones; larger class sizes through the fourth grade; a $10 million reduction in custodial services (think layoffs and pay cuts); and elimination of various administrative and teaching positions.
Incoming PR director Jennifer Sprague’s hefty salary has been well-reported. Superintendent Mike Miles also plans to launch a “leadership academy” to groom and train prospective principals.
Meanwhile, a few DISD programs, such as Pre-K, will be expanded or prioritized. Those include seventh-grade athletics districtwide, and expansion to 10th grade at A. Maceo Smith and the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, among other things.
Thursday’s budget-heavy board meeting begins 5:30 p.m. at district headquarters — 3700 Ross Avenue. It’s slated to run until after 11:30 p.m.
