Clear Creek Independent School District

Budget Recommendations

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• Consider eliminating the 5% Homestead Exemption.

  This recommendation will generate approximately $5 million in revenue for the school district. CCISD Board of Trustees offers taxpayers an optional homestead exemption of 5%. Clear Creek ISD is one of few area school districts that still maintain an exemption.  

  
  

• Consider allowing students who live outside the district to attend CCISD schools based on tuition.

  
  The committee made it clear this would only be acceptable if the district established parameters and tuition-based attendance would not lead to an increase in staffing numbers. 

• Consider a reduction in non-teacher and teacher contract days not to exceed five days.

  
  The majority of the district’s budget is tied to personnel at the campus level. Central administration accounts for 1% of total staff. The recommendation, if approved, would affect all administrators, teachers, and support staff. This was a difficult recommendation for the committee to offer. However, committee members recognized that if the deficit is $21-$41 million, this option is better than implementing a reduction in force. Currently, state law prohibits school districts from paying teachers, principals, librarians, nurses, and counselors less than what they made last year. There is legislation (HB 400) under consideration that would permit furloughs for employees across Texas. This legislation would need to be approved before this recommendation could be considered by the Board of Trustees.

• Consider eliminating all non-mandatory transportation or charge a fee for magnet programs such as WAVE, Science Magnet, non-hazardous bus routes within 2 miles, Clear Horizons Early College High School, dual credit courses, and extracurricular activities.

  
  Transportation continues to be a significant cost driver for the school district. The district is reimbursed for about .20 on every dollar spent on transportation. With fuel prices on the rise, the committee felt this was a financial burden that required attention. 

• Consider phasing out Clear Horizons Early College High School.

  
  This recommendation was not based on a program evaluation but rather what the committee felt was a high-cost per-student. The committee felt students could still earn dual credit through existing programs at the comprehensive high schools. This is one of the flagship programs within CCISD and is a life-changer for students. However, the district will need to explore avenues to reduce the cost of this program.

• Consider fees for extracurricular activities.

  
  The committee felt athletics and fine arts are part of the CCISD culture and would like to see all programs continue. However, the committee determined fees for uniforms and other supplies may be required to keep the programs afloat in these very difficult financial times. Many other school districts have already instituted fees. In the event this is approved by the Board of Trustees, the district will establish the means to assist economically-disadvantaged students.

• Consider reprioritizing instructional programs, preserving the core of Science, Math, English, and Social Studies at 90% and all others at a lower level such as 80%.

  
  This recommendation focuses on reducing all operational budgets across the board. Under the worst case scenario, the committee requested the district follow this model in the event there needed to be a reduction in force.

• Consider suspending district contributions for certain supplementary health benefits that are not utilized by all employees.

  
  This committee emphasized the importance of the continuation of the district’s contribution for health care benefits. The committee believed that eliminating the district’s contribution for dental, life, and EAP would have a limited impact as not all employees currently take these benefits. The Superintendent expressed concern that this recommendation and the others relating to employee furloughs will erode the district’s ability to recruit and retain the very workforce the committee wants the district to maintain.

• Consider a transportation fee of $20 per student, per year for athletic and fine arts.

  
  This is somewhat similar to recommendation number #4.