Introduction 3
English language learners 4
Special Education 4
Salaries 4
Budget 6
Six Features Common to Good Budgets 6
Conclusion 7
Introduction
Lamar Middle School, Irving Independent School District is a district-based school in Irving, Texas. The school has a total enrollment of 909 students in three classes sixth, seventh and eighth. This paper defines collected data on all students in different aspects such as by grade, qualification for free/reduced-price lunch, who are English language learners and who receive special education. Further, the paper describes average salaries of personnel in the school district where this school is located. It offers a brief overview of salaries that are paid according to a degree as well as pay grade. In addition to that, the allocated percentage of the district budget for personnel and central administration is described. The data obtained from the school for the budget is further examined to identify whether it reflects the six features (Unity, Clarity, Regularity, Balance, Publicity and Operational adequacy) common to good budgets.
The school, however, has first to twelfth classes, but currently students are enrolled in sixth, seventh and eighth classes only. According to a report 287 students are enrolled in class sixth, 289 students are enrolled in class seventh and 333 students are enrolled in the class eighth.
Free or reduced price lunch qualifiers
The school is located in a poor area where people mostly fall into the category of poverty. According to the report, 695 students, which is seventy-six percent of the total, are eligible to get free lunch. However, other 214 students are eligible neither for free lunch nor reduced-price lunch.
English language learners
The United States of America includes various ethnicities; therefore, in this district-based school various ethnic students are enrolled. A big number of 635 students are Hispanic, 175 students are White, 78 students are Black, 20 students are Asian, 13 students are Two or More, 4 students are American Indian and 2 students are Pacific Islander. It can be concluded with these facts that almost 734 students can be considered as English language learners.
Special Education
There are special education schools for students who are disabled physically or mentally, and for students who have behavioral problems. For these type of students, there are schools that are divided into four clusters: Cluster (1) Schools for blind or visually impaired students (visually impaired students); Cluster (2) Schools for deaf children, hearing-impaired students, students with severe speech and students with communication difficulties; Cluster (3) Schools for students with physical and / or intellectual disabilities, students with severe learning difficulties and chronically ill students with physical disabilities, children with epilepsy and multiple handicapped students who are having difficulty in learning; Cluster (4) Schools for students with severe behavioral and / or psychiatric problems.
Salaries
According to Salary Schedule of Irving Independent School District salaries, for teaching staff, is set on their educational background. Teachers, nurses, librarians and other instructional staff will be paid a daily rate of $272.73 that makes an annual salary of $51,000 on bachelor’s education. This salary is at step zero; it gets increased step by step and at step 40 it becomes a daily rate of $381.26 that makes an annual salary of $71,296. The same staff if has a master’s degree can get a daily rate of 280.75 that makes an annual salary of $52,500 at step zero. While, at step 40 it is a daily rate of $395.70 that makes an annual salary of $73,996. Furthermore, if the same staff has a doctorate level degree, they can earn a daily rate of $291.44 that makes an annual salary of $54,500 at step zero. While at step 40 it is a daily rate of $406.40 that makes an annual salary of $75,996 (District, 2014).
These salaries are based upon 10-month employment. If an employee is returning, he or she must have completed 90 days of service during the previous session to be eligible for a pay increase. The Irving Independent School District pays an additional amount of $1500 for level 2 and $300 for level 3 for those teachers who are eligible for Career Ladder (District, 2014).
The Irving Independent School District has a distinct scheduling of pay for various posts. All posts are categorized in pay grades and salaries are also described according to the pay grades. In pay grade-2, EC Inst Spec/Asst.‐Principal is paid minimum $245.53 and maximum $353.32 on the basis of daily work. He will be paid minimum $41,615 and maximum $59,885 on the basis of 200 days working and minimum $47,857 and maximum $68,868 on the basis of 261 days working. Almost entire administrative staff is paid in the same way (District, 2014).
Elementary Principal falls in pay grade-6, and he is paid minimum $358.03 and maximum $494.43 for daily work; however, minimum $82,347 and maximum $113,718 for 230 days. Elementary Asst. Principal falls in pay grade-3, and he is paid minimum $284.21 and maximum $392.49 for daily work; however, minimum $65,368 and maximum $90,273 for 230 days. The Middle School Principal falls in pay grade-7, and he is paid minimum $386.67 and maximum $533.97 for daily work and minimum $88,935 and maximum $122, 81 for 230 days. The Middle School Asst. Principal falls in pay grade-4, and he is paid minimum $306.96 and maximum $423.88 for daily work and minimum $70,600 and maximum $97,493 for 230 days. High School Principal position comes into pay grade-9, and he gets paid minimum $451.01 and maximum $622.82 for daily work; however, he gets minimum $103,731 and maximum $143,250 for 230 days. High School Asst. Principal falls in pay grade-5 and he gets minimum $331.51 and maximum $457.80 for daily work; however, he gets minimum $76,247 and maximum $105,293 for 230 days (District, 2014).
Budget
The Adopted Budget for the year 2014-2015 was $526,495,749 from which 4.23% was dedicated to cultural, recreational and educational environments. The proposed budget states that aggregate expenditures of central administration are $8,752,648 and per-student expenditures are $246. Proposed budget states aggregate expenses for curriculum development and staff development are $5,835,471, and per-student expenditures are $164. The adopted budget has not any specified area that describes what percentage is allocated to personnel and central administration, but proposed budget helps to understand what could be the budget allocation.
Six Features Common to Good Budgets
The adopted budget is divided on the basis of goals. The first goal is land use that is allocated 0.52% of the total budget. The second goal is vibrant neighborhoods, which is allocated 1%. Further, 4% are allocated to the third goal, economic development, and 18.24% are allocated to fourth goal, safe and secure city. A little amount of 0.47% is allocated to effective communication; however, 4.23% are allocated to cultural, recreational and educational environment. The 16% are allocated to sound governance, 31.87% are allocated to infrastructure network and 3% are allocated to environment sustainability.
The budget proposed by the Irving Independent School District is a good budget because it shows unity in all aspects. The budget also has clarity as anyone can understand what amount is proposed for what purpose and why. The budget also has regularity; it does not disturb reader to understand where the amount goes and from where does it come. It is also balanced because the adopted budget is a big amount and taking a little sum for education will make it more balanced. The adopted budget and proposed budget both are available on the website; anyone can download and have an idea of it. It is adequate for operations because it allocates a good amount for every activity.
Conclusion
Lamar Middle School, Irving Independent School District (ISD) is one of the famous and great performing school district in Irving, Texas. The school consists of 909 students that study in sixth, seventh and eighth class. The school consists of the special education department, but currently few special education students are enrolled in the school. The school district offers salaries to teachers, nurses, librarians and other instructional staff on the basis of their degrees. The report says 287 students study in sixth, 289 in seventh and 333 in eighth. Almost 695 of the total students qualify to get free lunch but remaining 214 do not qualify for even reduced price lunch. Students from different ethnicities study in ISD, a total of 734 students, belong to non-English backgrounds and are considered as English language learners. Apart from this the total number of special education learning disabled students and ADHD students are 504. The person having bachelors will get a lower salary than those with master's and masters degree holders will get less salary than those with a doctorate degree. Further, the school divides administrative staff in pay grades from 1 to 11, and each of these grades has different salary schedule. The district budget contains only 4.23% for all cultural, recreational and education environment, while, proposed budget describes expenditures in a good manner. The budget contains all six features common to good budgets.
References
District, I. I. S. (2014). 2014-2015 Professional-Administrative Pay Schedule. Irving ISD. Retrieved from http://irvingisd.net/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=17627&fileitem=12846&catfilter=1910
