Doing the Math: Your Very First Look at the Dallas ISD's Proposed 2012-'13 Budget

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Jan. 9 2012 at 8:17 AM

For several weeks we've known how 3700 Ross intends to deal with a budget shortfall in the coming school year -- by closing schools (guesstimated to save $11.5 million) and jumping kindergarten to fourth-grade teacher-student ratios from 22:1 to 24:1 per classroom (which could result in the loss of 300 teachers, an $18 million savings). And there are other cuts coming; we just don't know what they are yet. As you'll see below, in the preview labeled "Version I" of the budget Dallas Independent School District trustees will review during Thursday's board briefing, they remain "to be identified." The amount left to erase: $3,250,198.

Which isn't to say the entire proposal (titled, still, "Success With Less") is full of cuts; far from. Matter of fact there are several additions being proposed for the coming year -- chief among them, spending $5.7 million to make sure every pre-K teacher has a teaching assistant, high on the board's list of priorities. Two other proposals will cost around $1.1 million combined:

Add back seventh grade athletics - $400,000
Add Back $4.50 per student to all campuses for discretionary spending - $708,075

Also, note: "No salary or step increase." DISD2012-13 Budget Preview

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DISD Teacher

Seems we had $3 million to commit to TFA.

Robster

Forgive me for being obtuse, I'm just trying to get some perspective on the savings/cuts.

Anyone know what the $ Spent Per Student Ratio is? I know it's government so I'm not expecting it to be very efficeint. What metrics are used to compare schools in terms of $ across similar metropolitain areas? I could likely google it, but figured someone who really gets into this might know. Thanks

Michael MacNaughton

In a nutshell, the district is given money from State tax revenue based on weighted enrollment numbers. In 2010-11 the Average Daily Attendance was estimated at 144,300 with an enrollment of 157,085. The State then weights each child. A regular kid is 1.0, a magnet kid is 1.2, a special education kid might rate as high as 5.0. The WADA or Weighted Average Daily Attendance is the basis for disbursement of funds to the district. In 2010-11 the WADA was estimated at 199,533. The target revenue is $5,249 and it hasn't changed since 2006. $199,533 x $5,249 = $1,047,348,717 These numbers do not include funds available from Federal Programs (Title I, Title II, Title IX, etc.)Current financial information and budgets may be found at the Public Budget Commission web site at http://budgetreview.org/201120...

Diane Birdwell

Depends on the student, the needs (SpEd, ESL, Title I), the grade level and type of school (comprehensive, magnet, etc...).

Michael MacNaughton

The projection assumes the board will vote to close all the schools. What if they don't...or what if the number of school closings is reduced? What is Plan "B"?