Congratulations to our newest school board members: Meredith Keller, Marty Kanetzky, and Willie Tenorio, Jr. Our hopes rest on these new trustees. Last year, HCISD taxpayers spent an astounding $12,901 per student, up from $6,166 ten years ago (+109%) and our standardized test score improvement was less than the average statewide improvement. While we understand the changing demographics of the district, without serious attention to academic improvement, all this fresh new spending is wasted.
What’s even more disturbing is increased spending did not make its way to the classroom. The money isn’t going to the teacher. Average teacher pay in the 08-09 school year was $47,159 up from $34,336 ten years ago. Ten years ago with 6,309 students our total staff to student ratio was 7.39:1. In 2008-09 with 13,821 students this ratio was 7:05:1. Higher enrollment lead to decreased efficiency! While enrollment skyrocketed from 6,309 to 13,821, a 120% increase, central administration employment increased 333% during this same period!
On the interest and sinking fund side, the amount that pays for debt service, we have increased our debt to over $330 million, a whopping $24,000 per student. Sixty nine fast growth districts comprise 96% of total statewide enrollment growth. These 69 districts have average debt per student of $16,300. Hays’ per student debt is 50% higher than the other fast growth districts and our method of financing debt will burden future generations for decades to come. The 2008 bond issue alone defers principal repayments for 22 years costing another $65 million in interest. Look at it this way: In 98/99, our per student debt service was $1,219. In 08/09, it was $1,665, an increase of only 37%. During this same period of time debt went from $46.4 million to $331 million, an increase of 713%! This means each new student cost us $37,000 in new debt but only $450 in debt service. That’s because we’re laying huge repayments off on future generations. That’s shameful.
Ten years ago, Hemphill, Fuentes and Elm Grove cost a combined $12.3 million. Today, Carpenter Hill and Pfluger cost over $20 million EACH.
Bryce C. Bales
Manchaca
