Bryan ISD works through budget as deadline approaches

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Just weeks away from final approval, the Bryan ISD school board discussed the upcoming 2024-2025 budget at Monday’s workshop meeting.

There was a presentation with three options broken down for the budget to be approved. Highlighted in those options are how retention and recruitment payments will fit into the final balance. Three main barriers are preventing funding from getting to public schools, according to leaders. This is ESSER funds coming to an end, with no increases in basic allotments since 2019 and inflation. Leaders say this is why they need to work on keeping budgets low while also prioritizing staff.

Option one includes usual bonuses, that’s 5% throughout the entire year for retention or one-time payments for new faculty of $1,000. Option two includes the same payments but making the retention bonus 6%. The last option would be to nix the bonuses altogether in hopes of reaching a more balanced budget.

During discussions, board members showed option three was an unpopular choice, completely throwing out the presentation slide and ignoring the option. Those on the board and administration say they need to compensate faculty as much as possible.

“It’s a perfect storm right now for every Texas Public School throughout the state,” Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said. “Just from the feedback that we received from the board, it’s evident that they want to invest in our staff.”

Kevin Beesaw, the BISD financial services director says the impact on the overall budget by cutting these payments isn’t enough to offset the loss that could come.

“It would really be to the detriment of our faculty and staff which would then in turn affect our children and our quality of Instructions,” he said. “We’re not able to do big raises this year or do something like that. But we at least are doing a little bit and maintaining.”

BISD leaders will be voting to approve the 24-25 budget on June 17.