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GCCISD outlines open enrollment plan and budget scenarios that would require up to 51 position reductions
Summary
District leaders proposed limited open enrollment to increase ADA and fill specialized programs, and presented budget scenarios that include a recommended 2% pay raise funded in part by reducing about 50–51 positions through attrition; trustees asked for pilot scenarios and more detail on a proposed five‑by‑five schedule.
District leaders presented two interconnected items at the March 23 meeting: a proposal to explore limited open enrollment and a detailed budget update that modeled several scenarios for 2026–27.
Administration described a plan to amend the local interdistrict transfer policy (FBA) and the district's DOI language to allow limited open enrollment for students living outside Goose Creek boundaries while retaining priority for in‑district students. Administrators emphasized the plan would be capacity‑based, could prioritize specialized academies (CTE, Health Science, Pathways) and would require families to provide transportation. The administration suggested an amendment to the DOI could be ready by early May with the transfer window adjusted for the coming year.
On the budget, finance staff presented baseline projections (general fund revenues roughly $267.6 million) and three scenarios: no pay raise (one‑time CIP transfer produces a small surplus), a 1% general pay increase (largely balanced by modest reductions) and a recommended 2% pay increase. The 2% option would create a roughly $2.8 million shortfall that administration said could be addressed by reducing about 50–51 positions through attrition, targeted program reductions and one‑time uses of CIP funds; administration also proposed options to pilot the proposed 5x5 master schedule to reduce the implementation cost. Finance staff listed a set of unavoidable additions (additional special education teachers/paraprofessionals, six behavior coordinators and insurance adjustments) that increase the cost baseline.
Trustees asked for options that show budget outcomes with and without the 5x5 proposal and explored timing for a 2026–27 DOI amendment to open limited enrollment. One trustee expressed concern that moving two‑year contracts to one‑year could affect recruitment competitiveness; administrators said continuing contracts would not be altered and that the shift would be phased.
Why it matters: Enrollment, staffing and compensation choices will shape classroom staffing, services for special education and the district's ability to retain teachers. The board scheduled an additional workshop (special one‑item meeting after the March 30 top‑10 event and a follow-up April meeting) to refine scenarios before voting.
What happens next: Administration will return budget scenarios that explicitly compare outcomes with and without the 5x5 schedule, provide more detailed staffing analyses and timelines for any proposed DOI amendment if the board wishes to proceed.
