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Superintendent Howard says payroll error fixed, district faces $6.7 million shortfall after enrollment lag
Summary
Midland ISD Superintendent Dr. Howard told the board an ACH payroll processing issue was resolved the same day, that the district is about 1,000 students below projection and will need roughly $6.7 million in adjustments, and that principals and HR are working on staffing realignments.
Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Howard told the Midland Independent School District board on Aug. 26 that a payroll ACH processing error earlier in the week was corrected promptly and employees were paid on the scheduled payday.
"Our team worked very hard. We're fortunate that Wells Fargo, who is our depository contract, has same day ACH processing, and so we were able to make that happen on the same day," Howard said during her superintendent update.
Howard said the district is monitoring enrollment closely after reporting 29,084 students on day 5 â a drop of 112 compared with the same point last year and about 1,000 students short of the district's projection. She told trustees the enrollment shortfall translates into an estimated $6,700,000 funding gap the district must address through staffing and budget adjustments.
The superintendent said district leaders are preparing "round 2" staffing adjustments and expect to reassign or eliminate vacant positions where enrollment declines make them unnecessary. "The decisions we make this week will be those immediate decisions that are very clear cut," she said, adding principal supervisors and HR will lead placement and relocation work.
Howard also reported staffing fill rates: 96% of teacher positions filled, 100% of principals, and 98% of assistant principals and counselors. She said fallback measures include using the salary-verification process and covering overdraft fees for employees affected by the payroll timing error.
The board received the update with no formal action. Trustees asked clarifying questions about staffing and timelines; Howard said the district will return with a budget amendment in October based on actual enrollment and revenues.
