Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District
Happy Spring to the GCISD community!
This past weekend I watched another GCISD team compete at the highest level as the Lady Panther soccer team advanced to the state final game. CHHS athletics has enjoyed the most successful year in the school’s history, and across the district students are culminating a school year of work with academic, athletic, and fine arts competitions, events, testing, and end-of-year celebrations.
I want to give a big shoutout to our Curriculum and Instruction team and the staff at all of our campuses for helping our students experience the wonder of the Solar Eclipse on April 8. What a surreal, memorable day for us all!
Your Board is enjoying seeing our students’ success on full display while we continue to take care of business. The biggest challenge is the ongoing struggle to work within the financial confines we are saddled with due to the state of Texas’s school funding system, along with recent decisions made by our state legislators. Our fiscal year begins July 1, and although we voted on a balanced budget for the 2023-2024 year that included a 4% raise for our staff, unfunded mandates and unexpected shortfalls in the projected revenue through the year have created a deficit at this point.
While we are grateful to be in a much better position than many of our neighboring districts who have been forced to close campuses and utilize RIFs (reduction in force) as cost-saving measures, our staff is working to explore new revenue streams and tighten up expenditures. Since personnel comprise 87% of our M&O (maintenance and operating) expenses, and we do not have the ability as a board to increase the M&O tax rate, we must examine staffing efficiencies. Please be patient as our administration works to plan a budget within our means while maintaining existing programs.
Two non-negotiables are that we adopt a balanced budget for next year and that we maintain our academic rigor and high expectations that are a trademark to GCISD. I want to reassure parents that we are committed to high performing academics which is a part of what earned GCISD our Niche rating as the #2 district in DFW and #4 in the great state of Texas. We do not plan to compromise our high standards, and we will remain an asset to our partnering cities and citizens.
You will have the opportunity to vote regarding local issues in the upcoming election. Please take the time to make an informed decision regarding the proposed bond. There is no anticipated tax rate increase associated with the approval of this bond, but please note that due to recent state requirements, the ballot will state “this is a property tax increase.”
This law was put into place to hold school districts to the state's strict financial responsibility standards. GCISD has received the highest rating possible by the state for financial transparency and will continue to serve our taxpayers responsibly.
I feel like May rivals December as the busiest month of the year, so as we enter “May Madness,” let’s finish strong! Stay focused on your goals while your Board stays focused on our mission to “Honor our Legacy, Equip for the Future, Achieve Excellence.”
It is a privilege to serve you –
Mary Humphrey
Board Vice President, Place 7