Trustees Get First Look at 2024-25 Budget

District officials provided the first public look of the proposed 2024-25 budget at the April 23 school board meeting. 

The hearing for budget adoption is scheduled for June 3 with an official vote on budget adoption scheduled for June 11. The district’s fiscal year begins July 1.

In the budget development process, staff had to account for campus local funds as part of campus improvement plans, aligning staff numbers to district guidelines based on enrollment, and aligning department budgets to the district’s budget constraints.

Fort Worth ISD faced several challenges in the budgeting process this year, including:

  • Declining enrollment

  • Lack of additional state funding

  • Additional safety and security requirements

  • End of ESSER funding

  • Staffing adjustments

  • Potential increase in TRS-Active Care premiums

  • Textbook adoption gaps

  • Equipment replacement

  • Technology infrastructure needs

In Fiscal Year 2024, the district’s revenue was $817.7 million. For Fiscal Year 2025, the district expects a drop to $815.9 million.

View the full presentation here.

Middle Schools

The district also presented a review of the middle school experience in Fort Worth ISD and the unique opportunities they provide for our students and families.

McLean Middle School Principal Barbara Ozuna discussed the academic pathways available to students, which includes several ways students can start earning high school credits in middle school.

Students also can earn language credits for being native Spanish speakers and can start college and career readiness courses as early as middle school.

Middle school starts to open up several extracurricular opportunities for students. Rosemont Middle School Principal Xavier Sanchez shared options in athletics, fine arts, Junior Cadet Corps, clubs, and competitions.

All opportunities for students give them a chance to explore diverse interests while developing leadership skills.

Morningside Middle School Principal Dr. Rhonda McGuire shared the wraparound services the district offers students and families in middle school. 

These services, unique to Fort Worth ISD, help families access health care, after school care, and other needs of students.

None of the unique opportunities the district provides would be possible without the people who make Fort Worth ISD work, Meacham Middle School Principal Melissa Rincon said. The district employs highly-qualified, certified professionals to provide the highest quality education possible for students.

View the presentation here.

Playgrounds

The district will conduct an assessment of all elementary school playgrounds. Trustees approved allowing the maintenance department to conduct reviews that will rate each playground and determine which ones need improvements.

Not only will the assessment help improve the playgrounds for students, but also the surrounding communities who use the playgrounds. Kaboom, a vendor that has helped build 12 playgrounds in ÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ´óÈ«, will work with the district on the initiative. 

Leonard Middle School

The board approved moving forward with construction services at Leonard Middle School for renovations as part of the 2021 bond program.

Renovations are expected to not exceed approximately $38.4 million.