The budget of $11,067,913 for the 2015-16 school year has been adopted by the Howe ISD Board of Trustees after a recommendation by Superintendent Kevin Wilson. Of that, the general fund, which included teacher salaries is set for $9,354,625. Food service is budgeted at $456,22 while debt service is at $988,640 and federal funds of $268,426.
“The compensation plan (teacher salaries) encompasses 75 percent of the budget, so that’s always the first major expenditure that we look at.” Wilson told the board. “When we look at non-payroll, we look at campus needs and department needs and we always try to consider legislative action in odd number years because that will affect our revenue. And fortunately, we did see a little extra revenue from the legislature.”
The ISD added $1,000 to each step in the teacher salary structure. All staff that’s not on the step structure received a three percent increase in pay. That is one percent more than normal. Teachers that have 20 or more years experience that did not receive a salary step will receive a $500 increase. The total payroll came to $7,062,300 which is 75 percent of the overall budget.
A new teacher with no experience will start out at $36,000 (step zero). Howe ISD is expecting an increase in enrollment next year due to the small 2015 senior class that graduated. They are hoping for a normal kindergarten size class of 75-80 students. Enrollment in May at the elementary was 393. The Middle School listed 312 and the high school listed 291 for an overall enrollment at 996. Attendance was 979 for May.
The projections for property tax revenue is $189,000,000. The number is a projection based on new numbers. The school uses 96 percent of that number to base their budget until certified numbers come in in August. With the appraisals going up in the area, that will have a direct impact on the Howe ISD budget.
Wilson reported that he accepted resignations from Niki Hunt and Erin Vawter. Contracts have been offered to Matt Boykin to be the elementary school assistant principal. Jennifer Tucker will teach sixth grade science and Natalie McCall will teach high school math. Sherri Price will teach middle school math. Dana Schumaker will teach fifth grade math.
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