Dear Lovejoy Community –
We have received a number of questions and concerns about the recent changes related to staffing for the 2019/2020 school year. It is important to our Board of Trustees, and the entire leadership team, that we continue to provide updates and a summary of what has been done to address budget cuts effecting our school district and clarify misconceptions that are circulating.
We can assure you that any and all decisions are made with the desire to protect the exemplary education we deliver to each child in Lovejoy Schools. Kids are first - period.
As with ALL public schools in Texas, Lovejoy ISD must comply with a long list of state mandated employment laws. One of these mandates is that we must notify any/all staff members about POTENTIAL changes to their current contract by a certain date. We are forced to SPECULATE about state funding at this point and then notify employees about what MAY happen. It is important to note that none of the changes we have communicated are final yet, and are dependent on state legislation and funding decisions in Austin. Between strong lobbying by our parent community, district administrators, and our upcoming meetings with our legislators, we will be able to determine what funds are available for the coming school year and we will make any updated changes as we get final estimated revenue projections. We need our community to rally to support this effort as many have you have done in the past.
Clarification Regarding Common Questions
We invested in a score board and technology equipment instead of teacher salaries.
There are two separate budgets we manage, as do all school districts. A capital expense budget (I&S - Interest and Sinking,) and a general fund budget (M&O - Maintenance & Operations). Each of these budgets are supported separately with their own tax rate and tax collections. Tax dollars collected for the capital expense budget may only be used to fund capital expenses and may not be used for paying salaries, utilities, copy paper, instructional supplies, etc.
We used some capital expense dollars (I&S) to install a scoreboard that will CREATE additional revenue through sponsorship and advertising dollars and allow us to INVEST in the education and academic lives of kids here at Lovejoy. This revenue will go directly into our general fund (M&O) budget to support operations and teacher positions. We estimate the revenue from this project could total up to $150K per year. The dollars invested on the scoreboard could not legally be spent on teacher salaries. This was the more prudent and creative way to invest savings from capital projects to benefit our kids on the Maintenance & Operations side of the budget. Additionally, while discussing capital debt (bonds), it should be noted that the consistent oversight and action of our board over the last 5 years to refinance current bond debt is translating into $24M in interest savings for our taxpayers so far.
GT programs at the Elementary school level have been cut for K-2nd grade.
This is NOT accurate. School districts are required to provide GT services in grades K-12. The new structure will be to have K-2 teachers trained/educated to deliver GT instruction to identified GT students and provide the differentiated instruction directly in the classroom rather than in our current pull-out model. As always, our goal is to meet the learning needs of each Lovejoy student.
Changes to positions lost are final.
The personnel in positions impacted by the projected cut in state funding have all been notified. Once we have a complete picture related to the budget and state funding for the 2019/2020 school year, we are hopeful to restore as many positions as possible. We anticipate knowing more details after the legislative session ends on May 27.
Only certain programs were impacted at Willow Springs
One significant cost saving measure for the 2019-2020 budget was to change the WSMS schedule from an 8 period day to a 7 period day. This will cause students to have one less elective choice and may reduce the number of students in programs such as STEM, theatre, band, athletics etc. It was with a very heavy heart that the board approved programmatic changes impacting teachers. All of the programs that experienced a reduction in force last year, and this year, are never an easy decision, but are directly caused by the lack of state funding to Lovejoy ISD. Last year, WSMS made staffing reductions in science, social studies, dance, athletics, yearbook/journalism, and media. With the need for additional reductions this year, we had to make tough decisions on staff in theater, band, art, math, STEM, and the CAT. Even with these cuts over the past two years, none of our programs have been eliminated. WSMS and Lovejoy ISD will continue to offer first class experiences in all of our elective programs.
We are all working together, as a community, to protect and nurture the Lovejoy learning experience for all students and you can count on our school board, administration, and every educator in our district to put our kids first as we work through these budget challenges. We are thankful for every parent and community partner that has worked to generate additional revenue through creative programming. Rest assured those efforts are critical and we are thankful for the role you are playing. Our Foundation, our Campouts, and Lovejoy Scholars (tuition based enrollment) programs and every other non-traditional program helps bridge the gap in funding.
As we have mentioned before, we need your vocal and written support now more than ever in Austin! Please dedicate 30 minutes this week to reach out and rally in support of our kids!
Please see Dr. Womack’s message below in reference to the specific details of who to contact in Austin and what to share with them.
If you have any questions or have heard additional speculation you believe should be addressed, please share this with your campus leadership and administration, as they are the best source to start with, and we will be sure to provide further detail as needed.
Thank you for your continued support!
Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees
Chad Collins, President
Amy Smith, Vice-President
Anne Smith, Secretary
Scott Christiansen
Matt Gournay
Al Litchenburg
Robbin Wells
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Dear Lovejoy Community:
If you have not yet had the opportunity to contact the elected officials in Austin, regarding school finance, we hope you will do so. Please see below for a variety of ways in which you may help.
We thank you for your continued support.
With respect and admiration,
Dr. Dennis Womack
Interim Superintendent
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Dear Senator ____________, or Dear Representative ____________,
We are grateful for the hard work legislators have put into improving the school finance system this session. An increased investment in our students is greatly needed, as is addressing the state’s over-reliance on local school district property taxes. We also thank both chambers for supporting updates to the school finance formulas to ensure additional funding goes to the students who need it most. We ask that, as you develop the final school finance plan, you pay specific attention to “Transition Funding”.
Specifically, use ALL State Funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB3 for the 2019-2020 school year and future years of transition funding.
- Though the House and Senate propose investing billions of new dollars into Texas public schools, some school districts still lose money under the plans when comparing FY 2018 to FY 2019 and beyond.
- Because of uncertainties associated with the transition to a new school finance system, the House and Senate both propose transition funding for a limited period of time to prevent any school from losing money.
- That intention, however, falls short because the transition funding plan does not take into consideration ALL current state funds received by school districts.
- By not including all state funds in setting transition funding for school districts, and simultaneously compressing the local tax rate for districts, the state is setting up some school districts to LOSE money in the coming years.
- By ensuring that transition funding considers amounts currently received by a school district under existing Subchapter H, Chapter 42 for the 2018-2019 school year, the state can ensure that no district is forced to make drastic budget cuts under the new school finance system.
- Lovejoy will LOSE money and receive nearly $1,000 less per ADA than the statewide average. Lovejoy will receive less money than neighboring districts that are 3, 4, or even 10 times larger.
- At the least, the proposed transition funding language needs to provide a glide path for school districts dependent upon funding under Subchapter H, Chapter 42, and limit funding so that no such district exceeds the statewide average funding per ADA.
Thank you again for your commitment to the students and taxpayers in our community and the great State of Texas.
**Contact information is listed below.
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“Please ask the Senator/Representative to support using all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB 3. By not including all state funds in setting Transition Funding for schools, and simultaneously compressing the local tax rate for districts, the State is setting up school districts like Lovejoy to LOSE money next year and beyond. Thank you.”
**Contact information is listed below.
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Tweet One: #HB3 expand the transition grant funding so no district loses money #txlege #txed @DanHuberty @TrentAshbyTX @DiegoBernalTX @RepMaryGonzalez @KingForTexas @RepDennisBonnen @txhouseofreps
Tweet Two: #HB3 expand the transition grant funding so no district loses money #txlege #txed @SenLarryTaylor @DonnaCampbellTX @SenatorJaneNelson @KirkPWatson @SenRoyceWest @DanPatrick @Texas_Senate
Tweet Three: Include Hardship Grant funds collected by a school district in 2018-19 for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under #HB3 for the 2019-2020 school year and beyond #txlege #txed @DanHuberty @SenLarryTaylor @RepDennisBonnen @txhouseofreps @DanPatrick @Texas_Senate
Tweet Four: #HB3 By not including all state funds in setting transition funding and simultaneously compressing the local tax rate for districts, the state is setting up some schools to LOSE money in the coming years #txed #txlege @DanHuberty @SenLarryTaylor @txhouseofreps @Texas_Senate
Tweet Five: #HB3 By ensuring Transition Funding reflects amounts schools currently receive under existing Subchapter H, Chapter 42 for the 2018-2019 school year, the state can ensure that no district is forced to make drastic budget cuts under #HB3. #txed #txlege @DanHuberty @SenLarryTaylor
Tweet Six: #HB3 Transition Funding language must provide a glide path for schools dependent upon funding under Subchapter H, Chapter 42, and limit funding so that no such district exceeds the statewide average funding per ADA. #txed #txlege @DanHuberty @SenLarryTaylor
**Contact information is listed below.
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Although House Bill 3 (HB 3) is said to yield a positive result for many districts across the state, for Lovejoy ISD it is substantially negative. With the repeal of ASATR in 2017, and the repeal of Hardship Grants in 2019, Lovejoy ISD is poised to lose $3,000,000 + in state funding for the 2019-2020 school year. Past budget cuts due to legislative shortfalls have been made as far away from the students as possible. The district has exhausted every available solution to avoid cutting from inside the classrooms; but unfortunately, the remaining budget cuts will directly impact staff.
While it is an incredibly difficult decision to reduce staff, the district must undertake programmatic restructuring in order to operate within available revenues from the State. As a result of the loss of State funding from ASATR and Hardship Grants, Lovejoy will be one of the lowest per student funded school districts in Collin County and well below the average across the state. There are five Senators and five Representatives that will make the final determination on Lovejoy’s level of State funding. With your help, we are hopeful to be able to save the ~ 30 employees that have been cut for 2019-2020 school year.
**Contact information is listed below.
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Sample Phone Call to Senator Paxton:
Senator Paxton’s Office 512.463.0108
“I am calling to thank Senator Paxton for her support of Lovejoy ISD and advocating for our district from the potential negative impact of House Bill 3. Please tell the Senator to continue to support using all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB 3. Without this Transition Funding, Lovejoy will LOSE money and receive nearly $1,000 less per student than the statewide average. Lovejoy will receive less money than neighboring districts and be one of the lowest funded districts in Senate District 8. Thank you.”
Sample Email to Senator Paxton:
Dear Senator Paxton,
Thank you for continuing to advocate for the students, staff, and community of Lovejoy ISD. We are aware and appreciate your efforts to protect the schools in your Senate District from the potential negative impacts of HB3. Please continue to support Lovejoy by requesting the HB3 conference committee members to use all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB3.
Over the last 8 years, we have navigated the financial challenges brought about by the State of Texas continually cutting our funding. This next school year will be no different. Since 2011, Lovejoy has been cut ~ $25 million dollars in total funding, yet we continue to provide educational excellence to each and every student. With the repeal of Additional State Aide for Tax Reduction (ASATR) in 2017 and with an end to Hardship Grants for district’s dependent upon ASATR funding, scheduled for this June, Lovejoy once again stands to lose millions of dollars in state funding.
In the prior years, Lovejoy has taken bold steps to offset the loss of state funding with new sources of revenue, cutting far away from the classroom, cutting as many non-personnel items as possible, and initiating other significant austerity measures. However, during this legislative session, it has become increasingly clear that Lovejoy is being forced to take more painful steps, in addition to those that we have already implemented, in order to balance our budget. The district has exhausted every available solution to avoid a Reduction in Force. However, this past week ~30 positions were eliminated for the next school year due to the anticipated loss in state funding.
Our only hope are the conferees of the HB3 conference committee uses all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB3. This will allow districts to transition from the already reduced funding levels without further harm to our ability to continue investing in our student’s success.
Thank you again for your commitment to students and taxpayers in our community.
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Less than two weeks remain in the legislative session. Please contact the Legislators listed below “
to support using all state funds, including Hardship Grant funds, collected by a school district in the 2018-2019 school year for purposes of calculating the Transition Grant funding under HB 3”.
HOUSE BILL 3 CONFEREES
THE TEXAS SENATE MEMBERS
SENATOR LARRY TAYLOR, CHAIR (R-Friendswood)
The Honorable Larry Taylor
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0111
(TEL)
@SenLarryTaylor
SENATOR DONNA CAMPBELL (R-New Braunfels)
The Honorable Donna Campbell
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0125
(TEL)
@DonnaCampbellTX
SENATOR JANE NELSON (R-Flower Mound)
The Honorable Jane Nelson
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0112
(TEL)
@SenatorJaneNelson
SENATOR KIRK WATSON (D-Austin)
The Honorable Kirk Watson
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0114
(TEL)
@KirkPWatson
SENATOR ROYCE WEST
(D-Dallas)
The Honorable Royce West
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0123
(TEL)
@SenRoyceWest
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK (R-Houston)
The Honorable Dan Patrick
P.O. Box 12068
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0001
(TEL)
@LtGovTX
@DanPatrick
https://www.facebook.com/ltgovtx
HOUSE BILL 3 CONFEREES
TEXAS HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS
REPRESENTATIVE DAN HUBERTY, CHAIR (R-HUMBLE)
The Honorable Dan Huberty
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0520
(TEL)
@DanHuberty
REPRESENTATIVE TRENT ASHBY (R-LUFKIN)
The Honorable Trent Ashby
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0508
(TEL)
@TrentAshbyTX
REPRESENTATIVE DIEGO BERNAL (D-SAN ANTONIO)
The Honorable Diego Bernal
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0532 (TEL)
@DiegoBernalTX
REPRESENTATIVE MARY GONZALEZ (D-CLINT)
The Honorable Mary Gonzalez
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0613
(TEL)
@RepMaryGonzalez
REPRESENTATIVE KEN KING (R-CANADIAN)
The Honorable Ken King
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0736
(TEL)
@KingForTexas
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DENNIS BONNEN (R-ANGLETON)
The Honorable Dennis Bonnen
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-1000
(TEL)
@RepDennisBonnen
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