LTISD Info

The August 6th edition of the “Community Impact” local paper writes about the LTISD and their plans for new schools in the western parts of the district.

Interesting to note that the article does not mention the 17.28 acre lot on the corner of Old Ferry Road and Pace Bend Road (FM HWY 2322) that they own. Doesn’t the district have a plan for that land as well? Interesting …

But the economy seems to have these plans on hold as they have been for some time now, particularly since it has been reported that recent property “appraisals drop area’s property tax values“

DANGER, DANGER!

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It seems that the write up might be part of a set up by the district for another attempt take more of our money in the near future:

“If a bond is to be called in November 2011, a decision would not need to be made until mid-2011, but a community focus group is likely to begin this fall.

Ratcliff said in the next bond proposal, building a new elementary and middle school is likely to take priority, along with technology, buses and building upgrades. Since the district is relatively new—it split from Spicewood ISD in 1983—the schools have not needed many updates. Almost 30 years later, however, the district will begin factoring in upgrades, such as new air-conditioning systems and roofs for the schools.”

- “Lake Travis ISD plans new schools for growth in western district,” Tiffany Young, Community Impact Newspaper, August 6, 2010

and the article goes on to say:

“Not only does growth affect the district further down the road, but new students are also affecting the district’s budget that must be adopted by the end of August and is anticipated to be up 2 percent from last year’s budget.

The increases come primarily from three areas: 20 new teaching positions mandated by the teacher-to-student ratios set by the state, 2 percent salary adjustments (the average teacher’s salary at LTISD is $51,485) for teachers and other staff on the district’s salary increase schedule and health insurance adjustments estimated to increase 7.7 percent.

“There are going to be some financial hardships coming so we’re trying to make plans right now in order to help ourselves down the road,” Assistant Superintendent for Business, Financial and Auxiliary Services Johnny Hill said. “Just about every district in the state is going to have hardships.”

Hill said the reason for financial difficulty could be traced to Senate Bill 1, which initially put money back into the districts. However, since inflation was not taken into consideration, the targeted revenue per weighted average daily attendance (WADA), or the amount the state redistributes to each district per student, has not increased over time.

The state’s targeted spending per student is $6,169, but LTISD’s actual spending per student is $7,098.

“The only way for our systems to grow is to have more kids in the district, but the problem is our expenses per kid is going up because of inflation [and the] revenue is staying the same per kid,” Hill said.”

- “Lake Travis ISD plans new schools for growth in western district,” Tiffany Young, Community Impact Newspaper, August 6, 2010

See the “eye candy” chart that is being published with the article? Bet we’ll see more of it in the near future?