Dear Goose Creek CISD Family,
I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thank you to each and every member of our staff, our board of trustees, and wonderful community as we are confronted with the task of balancing our budget. Due to the exhaustion of ESSER funds and the Formula Transition Grant, unfunded/underfunded mandates, rising inflation, and minimal support from the Texas Legislature, the district is challenged with tough decisions to adopt a balanced budget while maintaining the high-quality education and competitive teacher pay we have established as a district standard. I know that together, as one voice for our community, we are committed to going the extra mile to ensure our students continue to thrive.
The Goose Creek CISD Board of Trustees called a special meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, to discuss and dig deep into the budget plan for 2024-2025. The meeting was held in an informational workshop format. The board did not vote on any of these recommendations, and GCCISD will continue to work through the April 1 meeting to refine the plan before the final recommendation.
Brigitte Clark, Chief Financial Officer, and Dr. Matt Bolinger, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, presented the current status of the district and a proposed budget reduction plan for the 2024-2025 school year. The proposal includes an additional $6.5 million for a general pay increase for staff, equating to a combined $28 million overall reduction needed. The GCCISD staff proposed 3 tiers. No dismissals would be required across any of the tiers, and staff reductions would be achieved through the attrition model and closing out unfilled vacancies.
Tier 1 was the bulk of the presentation and amounts to over $13 million in savings. This tier includes moving high school schedules from 8 to 7 periods as well as removing the current double block schedule from the junior high schools. Changes would include phasing out the dual two-way language bilingual program and consolidating the New Arrival Center program to identified campuses. Tier 1 would also reduce 25 district/campus curriculum & instruction positions and the consolidation of prekindergarten offerings by removing the STEAM prekindergarten program. GCCISD would also close or repurpose 16 professional positions, 28 auxiliary positions, and 20 transportation positions. Communities in Schools, principal residency grant, consultants, conferences, and white fleet vehicle replacement would also be reduced.
Tier 2 is a more aggressive approach for a savings of over $2 million. This tier includes merging campus library and technology positions and the consolidation of campuses based on declining enrollment. However, the board removed Tier 2 from consideration for the 2024-2025 budget adoption cycle.
Tier 3 is a one-time diversion of funds from Chapter 313 and Foreign Trade Zone to the general fund. These are one-time funds that would not carry forward beyond this budget cycle.
The district will incorporate changes to the plan requested by the board, including removing walk zones from Tier 1 and postponing all tier 2 items from consideration for the 2024-2025 budget adoption. The board agreed
to review the proposed plan and consider the budget reduction plan as an action for the April 1st regular board meeting.
In closing, I want to reiterate our commitment to prioritizing what is truly best for our students. Every decision we make, every policy we implement, and every action we take must be rooted in the well-being, growth, and success of the children and families we serve. Let us always remember that our ultimate goal is to provide them with the opportunities, support, and environment they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We are a district that values our staff and the passion they have for growing giants. Together, our district and elected board will strive for excellence in education and continue to create a brighter future for all students.
Dr. Randal O’Brien
Superintendent of Schools