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Superintendent Snell briefs trustees on budget work, illness spikes, drug testing and state budget proposals
Summary
Superintendent Snell updated the board on the district budget process, high absence rates linked to flu A, results of random drug testing at high schools, and key items from early legislative budget proposals including proposed teacher raises and school safety funding; he and trustees plan follow-up with legislators.
Superintendent Snell provided district updates and a summary of legislative activity affecting public education.
Snell said January kicks off the budget process and that the district is actively managing reductions and planning for next year. He reported elevated absences due to influenza A: the district averaged about 100 substitute requests last week and had over 107 absences the day of the meeting with 31 unfilled substitute positions.
On student safety and compliance, Snell pointed trustees to random drug testing results included in the board packet, noting Liberty Hill High School and Legacy Ranch High School have recent testing dates.
Snell also summarized early legislative budget proposals: he reported Senate Bill 1 proposals showed a large increase in state funds (numbers described in the packet), including a proposed $4,000 raise for classroom teachers and a $10,000 raise for teachers in small/rural districts, a proposed $400 million allocation for school safety per biennium, and a roughly $1 billion allocation for Education Savings Accounts (vouchers). Snell cautioned board members to review fine print as bills are finalized and said several trustees planned to meet with legislators to advocate for the district.
Trustees thanked staff for the update and noted they will follow legislative developments closely.
