Magnolia ISD’s Budget Hangs in the Balance
We are in the people business. And the truth is, people cost money.
There’s no one more important to your child’s growth and learning than the classroom teacher.
Magnolia ISD recruits to find the best-qualified educators to create the magic that happens when great instruction is delivered in the classroom.
The fact is, however…
our students also need great administrators, counselors, nurses, librarians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and office support staff. And there are some students who need special services, too, like gifted and talented, Career & Technology Education (CTE) or special education services. To add to the expense, we also try to ensure your child has a well-rounded learning experience, so we also employ coaches, band directors, theater teachers, academic and club sponsors, and more.
We are in the people business.
Magnolia ISD’s $134 million operating budget is predominantly used to cover labor costs for employees. In fact, approximately 86% of the district’s budget is allocated to personnel costs, covering both salaries and benefits. This means when funding falls short, there is little to no capacity to make significant budget cuts without impacting positions and people.
Salary Freeze Protects MISD’s Financial Stability
One item setting MISD apart from many other districts was the fiscally prudent decision to freeze salaries for the 2023-24 school year. Given record inflation and the state’s inaction to support public schools, maintaining our balanced budget has proven fiscally wise and prudent and has allowed us to avoid layoffs many districts are facing.
Prioritizing Students & Staff
As we move forward with the budget-building process, MISD remains committed to:
- retaining all of our exceptional teachers and staff within our district,
- maintaining all existing employee benefits,
- searching for any and all efficiencies within the operating budgets,
- protecting student programs and services, and
- attempting to generate a balanced budget that includes some consideration for employee pay.
The Cost of Competitive Salaries
In May, the MISD School Board approved paying $1.1 million for a 1% raise to all employees. This increase in local salaries must be carried forward year after year. The Board also approved a one-time retention payment of $500 to staff, costing $1.2 million, which avoids the multi-year impact on the budget.