2004-05
Goal:
Ensure Efficent Use of Financial Resources/Budgeting
Strategic Areas
Data Driven Decision Making
Description: This goal will focus on aligning expenditures with available revenues for the 2005-06 school year budget. The impact of the recapture tax (Robin Hood) must constantly be assessed as the District reviews programs, practices and delivery systems. In addition, the goal will focus on the processes and support services necessary to allow a greater focus of resources to work effectively with the instructional arm of the organization.
Benchmark: Using a Variety of Data Effectively
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Implement cost saving measures approved during the 2005-06 budget discussions.
- Reductions in the staffing of middle school teachers, special education teaching staff, teaching assistants, and central administrative and support staff totaling approximately 220 positions were implemented in 2004-05.
- Finalized planning for seven-period day, and subsequent staffing reductions, for grades 9-12 implementation in 2005-2006.
Follow-through with alternative methods to deliver instruction and maximize teaching units discussed in 2003-04.
- Curriculum and Instruction subcommittee of Seven-period Day Committee researched and recommended strategies for change in instructional day.
- Special Education leadership staff continued staff development with teachers in new strategies for instruction and instructional setting.
Establish Pro Forma budgets for 2005-06 by November 2004.
- A Pro Forma budget was established in November 2004 and presented to the Board of Trustees at the December 2004 Board Meeting.
Establish an earlier date for staffing allocations for 2005-06.
- Enrollment projections were completed in November 2004 and staffing allocations for 2005-06 were made in December 2004. This was the first time the District made staffing allocations prior to Winter Break.
Establish timeline for the next two years for the 2004 Bond Program.
- The administration and Bond Program department established a preliminary timeline for all projects and presented a report on Bond Initiatives to the Board of Trustees at the November 2, 2004 Board Meeting. After the first sale of bonds in January 2005, the administration refined the list of initiatives and defined the projects to be started during 2005 and 2006.
Use outside services to analyze legislation and funding impact to PISD.
- Plano ISD and 67 other school districts contracted with Moak, Casey & Associates to analyze legislation and funding impact. The Texas School Coalition and TASBO Legislative Pipeline were also used as resources to analyze legislation and funding impact models.
Continue to research demographic data in order to focus on strategies and select best practices that would enable campuses to close the achievement gap with special emphasis on completion rate, dropout rate, and special populations.
- The November 16, 2004 Board Work Session focused on an update on the Literacy Task Group. The February 15, 2005 Board Work Session was devoted to the research and findings by the administration as to demographic data that resulted in budgeting strategies to help impact Closing the Gap at several campuses.
- Federal programs coordinator maintained up-to-date demographic data for special populations which was shared with CIPs, staff, and the multi-ethnic committee.
Implement call center capability in various departments.
- Call centers have been implemented for the administrative center reception area, communications department, technology help desk and the PASAR program.
Evaluate and examine the efficiency of the Communications Department under the guidance of new leadership.
- The Communications Department, under new leadership and with many new staff members, has been in a year of evaluation and self-assessment. Programs such as Teacher of the Year, New Teacher Dinner, and Convocation have been through a process of initial streamlining with post-event discussion to lead to more efficient and cost saving measures without compromising quality.
Evaluate the purpose, planning, process, and outcomes for all Communication Department events.
- The Communications Department, under new leadership and with many new staff members, has been in a year of evaluation and self-assessment. Programs such as Teacher of the Year, New Teacher Dinner, and Convocation have been through a process of initial streamlining with post-event discussion to lead to more efficient and cost saving measures without compromising quality.
Evaluate overall printing costs and effectiveness of district wide publications.
- Print costs have been reduced and an overall reduced budget was submitted for the 2005-06 school year.
Evaluate current and future goals for fundraising for the Plano ISD Education Foundation.
- The Executive Director for Government and Community Relations has worked in partnership with the Plano ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors to develop a newly defined profile for the vacant foundation leadership position and hire a new Executive Director in August 2005. The new profile reflects increased responsibilities to seek major gifts through corporations that support district initiatives to close the achievement gap.
Benchmark: Using Information to Improve Instructional Practice
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Establish instructional staffing model based on targeted student populations.
- Provided Title II funds to reduce class size at identified schools.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of programs impacting student achievement through the STARS initiative.
- The cost benefit analysis for the STARS Program is currently in progress. The student achievement results for 2003-04 and 2004-05 are being reviewed. A report to the Board is tentatively scheduled for the September Work Session.
Benchmark: Using Data to Improve Student Performance
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Continue funding for EdSoft and 4GL applications for student mastery tracking and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
- SAS has been implemented to provide necessary data functions for assessment and accountability and 4GL has been licensed for the 2005-06 school year.
- All district campuses have the capability to use the 4GL (Encore) program for IEP development. The information is used for campus and district-wide data analysis regarding disability issues.
Benchmark: Relating Investments, Outcomes and Improvement Strategies
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Implement second phase of Texas Education Administrative Management Software (TEAMS) to replace CIMS applications.
- Worked with PISD campus and administrative personnel to gather requirements and conducted testing on the second phase of TEAMS software for Student Management and Financial applications.
Continue to monitor service level agreements with outsourced vendors.
- Weekly meetings are scheduled to review technology outsource performance with all vendor partners in addition to automated notification of any system disruptions. Monthly reports are provided to enable validation of service level agreements.
Design a facility rental schedule that is tied to energy management and overhead cost related to rentals.
- The administration presented rental rates and the need for a revision due to utility and overhead cost to the Board of Trustees at the September 7, 2004 and March 1, 2005 Board Meetings. A new facility rental rate schedule was approved at the Board Meeting on April 5, 2005.
Work with Curriculum and Instruction to determine cost effectiveness of magnet programs in identified areas.
- Auto body course identified for magnet status and moved centrally to PSHS.
- Career education study committee formed to review and make additional program recommendations.
Use bond initiatives to reduce operating cost in the area of transportation, maintenance repairs and utilities.
- The first and second sale of 2004 bond funds include funding for school buses, modification in HVAC systems to save electricity, a computerized irrigation system to save on irrigation cost and system and compliance funds to relieve the maintenance and operation funds of reoccurring capital maintenance expense.
Purchase future school sites for development.
- On October 19, 2004 the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a 12-acre site in the City of Parker for a future elementary school. This site, along with a 30-acre site in the City of Parker purchased in the previous year, allows for the long-term development of this area for future sites of two elementary schools and one middle school.
Continue to look at cost effectiveness of outsourcing.
- The District was able to bid-out and contract for landscaping and custodial services district wide during the 2004-05 school year. Both contracts, which go in effect during the 2005-06 budget year, allow the District to add two new elementary schools and still pay less than in 2004-05.
Pursue sale of curriculum products.
- Curriculum sales for 2004-05 included three significant sales totaling $137,333.34.
- Developed CD format for delivery of curriculum products to individual customers at the campus, subject area, and/or teacher level.
Continue in revenue sharing with Prologic.
- The existing agreement for revenue sharing remains in place.
Continue sports marketing initiatives to enhance athletic revenue.
- Expanded PISD Athletic Hall of Honor banquet and golf tournament events.
- Utilized Kimbrough Stadium as advertising and development venue.
Continue advertising initiatives to supplement other local revenue.
- Advertising and sponsorship dollars are increasingly important to maintain the quality of the events supported by the Communications Department and many others. To concentrate efforts in seeking these funds, the Communications Department has developed a Contributor Program that vertically aligns beginning donors and sponsors in a program to turn initial gifts into annual partners and to grow levels of giving as major donors to the Plano ISD Education Foundation. This initiative brought four new major event sponsors to the district in May, June, and July.
- The District continues to actively pursue bus and athletic advertisement. Additionally, the District continues to pursue internet and electronic advertising for school stores and through activity fund initiatives
Capacity Development
Description: The District will work to prepare its legislative agenda for 2005 so that coalitions can be formed and so that we can communicate with the appropriate legislators and educate the community regarding the District’s needs. The District will conduct a department and campus review of revenue and expenditures to facilitate balancing the budget.
Benchmark: Expanding Organizational Effectiveness
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Support legislative efforts to revise the Texas School Finance System.
- Continuously involved with House and Senate Education Committees and staff.
- Participated in Collin County Day in Austin.
- Met regularly with area legislators.
Participate in Texas School Coalition activities to bring financial relief to Chapter 41 districts, including litigation.
- Travis County Court ruled in favor of plaintiff districts.
- Oral arguments presented to Supreme Court in July.
- Supreme Court decision to be handed down soon.
- Superintendent continues as President of Texas School Coalition.
Educate PISD staff and parents regarding the District’s legislative initiatives and seek their active support.
- PISD website continues to include a link to all advocacy issues, most especially those issues surrounding school finance.
- District’s eNews is used as communication tool.
- Additional communication with staff/parents/citizens includes meetings with groups such as Administrative Council, Faculty Council, Key Communicators, PTAs, Rotary and other civic clubs.
Continue partnerships with colleges and universities on recruitment efforts that produce numbers of quality, diverse teaching candidates.
- Visited approximately 52 colleges and job fairs to attract candidates to Plano ISD. Over 30 percent of university recruiting trips and job fairs targeted minority-rich applicants. The district will hire approximately a600 teachers for 2005-06. the district's annual Recruitment Open House brought in almost 1,100 candidates in 2005. It is important to note that Plano ISD processed approximately 10,200 applications for 2005.
- Art coordinator presented to UNT classes on 3 different occasions to maintain relationships and help with the recruitment process.
Maximize the use of limited resources through use of technology in recruiting such as on-line databases, virtual job fairs, on-line screening tools, etc.
- Human Resources continues implementation of TEAMS, particularly in regard to applicant processing. The Gallup Teacher Insight online screening tool is now being utilized across the district to assist principals in identifying teachers who are good matches for Plano ISD.
Build on partnerships with Plano Education Foundation and the community on recruitment and retention efforts through more strategic use of funding for interviewing and relocation expenses, as well as for teacher mentoring program.
- Human Resources coordinated the teacher mentoring program, as well as processing of new hire relocation loans.
Development of construction strategy to accommodate renovation of facilities with less disruption.
- The administration recommended to the Board of Trustees that with the 2004 Bond Program the District move to a “Construction Manager at Risk” construction method on major renovation projects. This method allows the District to work with both the architect and construction management team during the planning process. It also allows the District to be involved with the approval of sub-contractors. The first group of “Construction Manager at Risk” proposals were received and approved by the Board of Trustees at the March 1, 2005 Board Meeting.
Benchmark: Promoting Innovation
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Implement textbook management system.
- Initial testing is completed, mobile scanners are in place, final implementation of the software by second semester
Finalize grant program to encourage Plano ISD students to return as future educators in the District.
- The groundwork has been completed on this effort. In 2005-2006, Human Resources will collaborate with a team of principals to create an implementation plan.
Work with area legislators to draft legislation and secure support for eLearning funding (includes online learning and 1:1 computing initiatives).
- HB1445 in support of a Texas Virtual School program was placed on the calendar on May 11, 2005 but was not voted on during this session.
Student Learning
Description: Address budget and staffing as it pertains to the delivery of curriculum instruction.
Benchmark: Ensuring Learning for all Students
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Work with Summit Response Teams to prioritize funding to close the gap in student learning.
- All summit response teams were tasked with finalizing recommendations.
- Presented status report to Board in February.
Continue to implement recommendations from Stetson Study.
- Campus staff was trained to implement a model of Special Education staffing that emphasizes efficiency as well as quality programming for students.
Provide Region X training dealing with LEP students for staff.
- Each Cluster enrolled campuses in Region X’s Title III Bilingual/ESL Cooperative to assist teachers with training and certification to better meet the needs of the bilingual and ESL learners.
Community Connectedness
Description: We will strengthen the district’s out-reach program as we seek to strengthen understanding of the financial issues facing Plano ISD and involve more members of the community and our parents in planning and implementing school improvement.
Benchmark: 1. Building Community Partnerships
2. Developing a Strong Community
Evidence/Attainment/Results of 2004-05 Major Initiatives:
Assist in the development of and the communication of the 2005 legislative program.
- Continuously involved with House and Senate Education Committees and staff.
- PISD website continues to include a link to all advocacy issues, most especially those issues surrounding school finance.
- District’s eNews is used as communication tool.
- Additional communication with staff/parents/citizens includes meetings with groups such as Administrative Council, Faculty Council, Key Communicators, PTAs, Rotary and other civic clubs.
Maintain ongoing and effective communication with state legislators.
- Participated in Collin County Day in Austin.
- Communicated by phone and email and met regularly with area legislators.
Create and implement an elementary PTA Sister School Program that crosses cluster lines to benefit all elementary students in PISD and better meet their needs.
- The Sister-School Program was implemented on a voluntary basis and had twenty-four campuses participating to create twelve Elementary Sister-Schools throughout PISD and better meeting student needs.
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