Dear Parents:
Friendswood ISD received notice that the district has been recognized as the most or one of the most efficient and effective districts in the state consistently for the past five years by various independent researchers.  Even so, FISD is not immune to the effects of a weakened economy and must find ways to operate even more efficiently while continuing to maintain Exemplary schools.  The FISD Board of Trustees is committed to providing a quality education to all students while operating within a balanced budget and the administration has a strong resolve to meet that goal.

Although the district’s enrollment growth has averaged 2% a year for ten years, Friendswood ISD experienced no growth in enrollment this past year.   Due to the state’s system of funding (target revenue) this means that no additional revenue will be forthcoming.  Due to the weakened economy and uncertainty with NASA, next year’s budget is being developed very conservatively.   When you add the cost of continued unfunded mandates, subtract unrealized interest on investments, and increase the utilities budget for our new facilities, the district is projecting an $800,000 budget deficit for next school year.  The Board and administration have been diligently working on solutions to this deficit for the past 7 months and have a plan to balance the budget. However, due to statutory deadlines (April) for notification of teacher and administrative contract renewals for 2010-11, it was necessary for the Board to declare program changes and a reduction in force at the March Board meeting.

The program changes adopted at the March Board meeting are at the high school and affect two elective areas. Foundations of Personal Fitness, a class in the area of PE, was eliminated by the State as a required course and the second was in Computer Science where fewer than 40 students enrolled for all Computer Science courses.  Elective courses at the secondary level are offered based on student and parent choices.  This has always been the case.  The difference now, is that the District can no longer guarantee a fulltime teaching position to a teacher with less than a fulltime enrollment of students.  In the past, it was easier to renew a teacher’s contract without a full student load because the teacher could be assigned to teach other classes.  However, under federal law, teachers now have to meet Highly Qualified standards,  more rigorous standards than state certification.   The flexibility once available to administrators and teachers is no longer available.  

In an effort to reduce school taxes, the Texas Legislature changed school funding in 2006 and adopted a per pupil target revenue system and lowered local control of school property taxes from a $1.50 ceiling to a $1.04 ceiling.  Under the current system, any growth in the local tax base accrues to the State.   Revenue increases are only seen when enrollment and average daily attendance increases or if a community votes for a tax rate increase.  The Board does not believe this is the right time to pursue a tax rate increase, so every effort is being made to reduce expenditures without sacrificing quality.

FISD is facing the same challenges every district in the state and most businesses are facing in today’s economy.  The District is fortunate to have a strong fund balance for “rainy days.”  The District is also fortunate to have had conservative financial management for many years.  We will see additional changes in the future but student learning and the success of our students and schools will remain the focal point of all of our decisions.  I am confident FISD will continue to be a leading exemplary district.