February
14, 2011 board discussion regarding transfer students, the FAST report
and per pupil expenditures in Texas public school districts.
During the February 14, 2011 board meeting
budget discussion, Clint Sayers stated that each transfer student is
only bringing in $6364 while we spend $8525 per student. Note:
Clint referenced the Texas Comptroller's Office recent FAST report which
rates efficiency in use of funds and gave Eanes ISD only 3.5 stars out
of 5. (Scroll down for a link to the FAST report.) Clint
explained that according to that report other districts spend far less
per student than Eanes ISD. Clint
asked Nola "How do we account for this?"
Nola responded "according to my analysis we
pay teachers more, we have more teachers with masters degrees."
Clint asked Nola "Do you think that we pay more (per pupil) than
Highland Park?" She did not answer. He stated "We ought to know
that ... we ought to know what the competition is ... I've had people in
the community ask ..." and then asked Nola to take a look at Highland
Park a district that spends (he thought) $1100 dollars a student less
than Eanes ISD. He further explained that if Eanes spent what
Highland Park spent per pupil then Eanes could operate on 9.8 million
dollars less.
Keep Eanes
Informed researched the most recent TEA data (2009) and found the
following:
Highland Park ISD
spends much less per pupil than Eanes ISD.
Highland Park ISD
pays teachers more than Eanes ISD.
Highland Park
employ teachers with higher degrees than Eanes ISD.
Highland Park has
a lower teacher turnover rate than Eanes ISD.
Highland Park
ISD
Total Operating
Expenditures Per Pupil 8,186
Average Teacher Salary
53,957
% Teachers With 5 or
Fewer Years of Experience 27.3
% Teachers Average
Years of Experience 13.3
% Teachers With
Advanced Degrees 63.4
Teacher Turnover Rate
12.0
Eanes ISD
Total Operating
Expenditures Per Pupil 9,415
Average Teacher Salary
50,284
% Teachers With 5 or
Fewer Years of Experience 27.2
Teachers Average Years
of Experience 13.8
% Teachers With
Advanced Degrees 32.3
Teacher Turnover Rate
13.1
(Source: Texas
Education Agency)
Purpose of FAST Report:
The FAST report accomplishes the House
Bill 3 charge to “identify school districts and campuses
that use resource allocation practices that contribute to
high academic achievement and cost-effective operations.” It
identifies school districts that spend less than their peers
while producing exceptional academic progress. The FAST
project, however, goes beyond these requirements to offer
educators, policymakers and the public a significant
research tool. The report recommends ways to improve
efficiency at the school district level, while the FAST
website will allow districts to see just how they compare to
similar districts across a range of spending and academic
indicators.
Link here to
read FAST report.(Source:
Texas Comptroller's website)
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