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LISD approves another early resignation plan
By Chris Roark, croark@starlocalnews.com
Since the early resignation incentive initiative has helped Lewisville ISD trim some fat off its budget during the last two years, the district is going to offer it at least one more time.
During Monday's LISD Board of Trustees meeting, the board voted, 5-1, to approve the incentive program for the 2012-13 school year. Board member Mike McDaniel was the only member to vote against the motion.
The district will allocate $2 million for the program, which is for term and continuing contract employees, as well as non-contract employees who work at least 204 days.
LISD began the program during the 2010-11 school year, as 232 employees resigned early. The payout was $2.2 million, and the cost savings was $14.8 million.
Last year, 212 employees took advantage of the program, which had a payout of $1.98 million. It saved the district $13.2 million.
District officials said the hope is to have 200 employees take advantage of the program, but when asked how many more years the program will continue, Dr. Stephen Waddell, LISD superintendent, said it's probably nearing the end.
"We're still dealing with the shortfall from the state," Waddell said of the funding cuts that have totaled $54 million for LISD in the last two years. "This isn't going to be a year after year thing, but I still think this benefits us significantly. It's a good way to make a big impact on our budget. It's worked for us before, and it's important to do this again this year. But it will probably reach its limit after a year or two."
The board also discussed a spending plan for the remaining $200 million funds from the 2008 bond election.
The district's recommendation, based on the findings of a facilities assessment in September, is to use $160 million of the remaining funds in four areas: replacing Camey Elementary ($21.5 million) and Griffin Middle School ($43.2 million) in The Colony, additional money for technology in the district ($40 million) and renovations for existing campuses ($55.3 million).
Michael Perry, executive director of new construction, said it's unclear whether Camey and Griffin would be replaced at its existing site or at another location.
"We're considering both options," Perry said. "Right now, we're just asking if we can replace each campus here or put it there, yes or no."
The board is expected to vote on the spending plan in January.
The board also discussed the possibility of changing its policy on intradistrict transfers. The proposal, which will be voted on in January, deals with three aspects, including factors when considering a transfer request. The other components are allowing nonresident employees of contracted service companies to request a transfer for their student, and eligibility for extracurricular activities.
The factors that would go into determining if the student can be transferred is space availability, as well as the student's attendance, academic and discipline record.
The employee consideration is aimed to provide the same benefit that the professional employees already receive. Should the proposal pass, the employee's child would be assigned to a school based on the employee's job location, feeder pattern and enrollment and student-to-teacher ratio at the requested campus.
Also, there would be a new committee established to consider whether a student requesting an intradistrict transfer would have to lose a year of varsity extracurricular eligibility or if the reason for the request is considered unusual. The committee would be composed of the athletic coordinator and the principal from the other schools in the district. Currently, the superintendent hears the case.
The district staff also presented the board with the proposed academic calendar for the 2013-14 school year.
An academic calendar committee, which included students, parents, teachers and administrators, came up with two options for the calendar, factoring in district and state guidelines.
Option A received overwhelming support, nearly 80 percent, from an online poll. That option features the second semester running from Jan. 21 through June 5. Option B has the second semester running from Jan. 22 through June 9. The first semester under both plans runs from Aug. 26 through Jan. 17.
The board is expected to vote on the calendar in January.
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