Stephanie Elizalde Salary: In face of a $62 million shortage, the superintendent of Austin ISD proposes pay raises for nearly 7,000 employees. Austin ISD is facing a $62 million budget hole, and Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde addressed the possibility of staff cuts and fewer electives on Dec. 13. Classified employees, such as school custodians, will see their starting pay increase from $13.50 to $16 per hour, a 2% increase, and a $1,000 raise for teachers, according to Elizalde.
Benefits will grow for those who earn more than the starting pay. In June, the board of trustees will decide on the proposed budget for 2022-23. Around 5,000 individuals would be affected by the teacher salary hike, while only 2,000 people would be affected by the classified employee raise. “Teachers certainly deserve more,” Elizalde remarked. “However, just because we have the means to provide them with everything they deserve does not imply we should.” She is unable to expect the support employees to work at the current hourly rate of $13.
She stated that these compensation hikes would be paid for by the central office. Around 60 jobs have been lost due to attrition, saving the corporation $4.8 million thus far. Her goal is to find an extra $11.8 million in savings. She indicated that as a result, 15 to 20 full-time jobs could be lost. Employees who are laid off will be notified in January and given the option to apply for available positions in the district. She went on to say that teacher layoffs aren’t something to be concerned about. “When there are budget cuts, the central office must take the initiative.”
The District is trying hard to Maintain Electives,
Teachers and school board members have expressed worry about teacher fatigue, vacancies, and retention. At the same time, Elizalde makes a declaration. There have been discussions, she claims, of cutting secondary school timetables from eight to seven periods. She insisted that nothing would change in that regard. The district is trying hard to maintain electives, according to Elizalde. She believes that allowing vacant positions to go unfilled and reallocating resources might address a major chunk of the deficit.
According to her estimates, the district is short about 150 instructors while also employing about 300 more than it requires. According to Elizalde, some classrooms are overcrowded, while others have too many empty seats. There are attempts to change the schedules. According to Elizalde, the district expects to lose more teachers than usual due to burnout, which causes roughly 500 teachers to leave each year. She stated that there will be no layoffs as a result of this. According to a district press release, moving professors will save the district $21 million. These upgrades are important, according to Elizalde, and more must be done in the budget for the 2022-23 school year.
Due to the deficit, the board will be unable to pass a budget this year. Deficits imply that the district expects to cover the difference with its fund balance (essentially a savings account). However, there are insufficient finances this year to fill the gap without falling below the legal minimum. Districts must maintain a fund balance of 90 days’ worth of operating expenses in order to receive state support. The AISD deadline is 72 days. If these standards are not met, AISD staff believe the district’s financial viability will be jeopardized. According to district officials, the district would face a $62 million shortfall due to under-enrollment in the 2021-22 school year.
Dr. Stephanie is a lifetime educator and a Fierce Advocate
Because 3,000 fewer students signed up for the 2021-22 school year than expected, the district lost an estimated $15 million. Dr. Stephanie Elizalde is a lifetime educator and a fierce advocate for educational equity and quality for all children. Dr. Elizalde was most recently the Chief Schools Officer for Dallas ISD, the state’s second-largest school district. She was named Director of Mathematics in Dallas ISD’s Teaching & Learning division in 2011. Throughout his career, Dr. Elizalde has held positions as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent.
Throughout her career, she has worked in a number of educational districts, including Southwest ISD and San Antonio ISD. Dr. Elizalde thinks that the development of competent school leaders is the key to every school’s success. She thinks that “the teacher is the program,” and she goes out of her way to help, praise, and keep the best of the best. She has an exceptional track record of success in working with varied populations to improve kids’ academic achievement. She understands the need of forming collaborative partnerships with the city and the communities where each school is located.
Dr. Elizalde was designated one of four Outstanding Hispanics in Education by the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2014, and she was named a Point Person for her community work by the Dallas Morning News in 2016. She has received the Presidential Medal and the UT-Austin Dr. Nolan Estes Leadership Ascension Award four times from Ana G. Mendez University. She is currently a member of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Principal Leadership Academy and Cooperative Superintendency Program Advisory Council.
Dr. Elizalde is a third-generation public school teacher, following in her grandmother’s and father’s footsteps. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Texas at Austin.
A finalist for the Austin ISD superintendent position has an interview
Stephanie Elizalde, one of the finalist superintendent candidates for the Austin Independent School District, has stated that when she takes over in August, she plans to focus on equity, teamwork, and community participation. The AISD Board of Trustees accepted Elizalde’s appointment on Tuesday night, with seven trustees voting in favor and two abstaining. In an exclusive interview with KXAN’s education reporter Alex Caprariello, Elizalde said, “I believe that my tenure as Chief Schools Officer of the Dallas Independent School District, where I have served since 2011, has prepared me for this new job.”
We are continually working to strengthen our efforts in order to ensure that all students, regardless of where they live, have access to a high-quality education. “So that’s what I’ve been focusing on in Dallas,” Elizalde explained. According to state law, the board of trustees must wait 21 days before approving a contract to hire Elizalde. Signing the contract will decide her start date and remuneration. She insists, though, that she will begin working well before the scheduled board meeting. She says. The AISD board and administration have hinted at a plan to allow Elizalde to connect with the community, but neither has provided specifics.
Elizalde’s admittance plan will include as many members of our community as possible, he said. Listening is one of the most important aspects. ” I learn nothing from talking. In order for me to learn, I must be listening to others. When seeking the position, Elizalde noted that she had closely followed the debates on student equity. She said that her earlier experience working in Dallas and San Antonio school districts will assist Austin’s forward-thinking community groups.
“Equity, I know, is the real big issue or something we want to deal with in Austin,” Elizalde says. “Without a doubt, that is who I am and how I lead.” One of my basic values is “excellence and equity in education for all children.” “So that’s something near and dear to my heart,” I explained.
