Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultant Dr. Eddie Colson urges Bastrop ISD trustees to align budgets with student outcomes
Summary
At a Bastrop ISD team-building workshop, consultant Dr. Eddie Colson told trustees to prioritize student outcomes and long-term governance over line-item management; trustees discussed budget shortfalls, enrollment pressures and targeted legislative advocacy before adjourning.
Dr. Eddie Colson, a consultant with N2 Learning, told the Bastrop Independent School District board during an annual team-building workshop that trustees should keep “a relentless pursuit and interest in student outcomes” and focus on governance-level questions when reviewing the budget.
Colson opened the session by distinguishing the board’s governance lane from the district’s operational lane, saying trustees should set long-term priorities and check that budget allocations move the district toward agreed student outcomes. “Does this budget move us toward the vision that we have set out for our kids?” he asked.
Trustees repeatedly identified students as their primary constituents and named safety and a “whole child” approach — including academics, fine arts and athletics — as priority outcomes. One trustee noted past budget shortfalls, saying the district had faced deficits of about $5,000,000 in previous years and could be facing roughly a $3,000,000 shortfall this year; trustees discussed balancing pay, enrollment-driven funding and maintaining fund balance.
On transparency and stewardship, a trustee said the public expects the board to be a “good steward” of taxpayer dollars and to provide clear, dashboard-style reports. Another trustee urged clearer communications and marketing to address declining enrollment and competition from vouchers; Colson recommended focused messaging to help retain and attract families.
The session included practical guidance on oversight. Colson advised trustees to avoid micromanaging individual line items or staffing decisions and instead ask whether spending supports strategic priorities and measurable indicators such as STAAR/ACT/TSI readiness. Trustees described routine budget monitoring practices — monthly reports, the ability to request clarifications from the CFO and periodic evaluations of renewals for contracts or software.
On advocacy, trustees and Colson discussed concentrating on a small set of legislative priorities rather than broad requests. Colson highlighted two specific ideas: raising per-pupil funding and moving state funding from an attendance-based to an enrollment-based formula. Trustees also recommended targeting specific unfunded mandates when rallying community support at the state level.
The workshop ran past the planned time; Colson thanked the board for the opportunity and the chair adjourned the meeting after asking for additional items and hearing none.
