By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer

Eanes school board members met with Superintendent Nola Wellman Wednesday night to discuss the developing budget for next year, listen to staff reports on recent Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test results and set calendars for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

A number of parents also took the opportunity to address the board during open forum about the district’s direction in special education issues.

Eanes Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bill Bechtol gave preliminary Spring TAKS results, saying the district improved its commended percentages in 16 of 27 categories.

“I would say, based on our preliminary calculations, every one of our schools and the district will be rated exemplary,” Bechtol predicted for next year.

Trustees approved a change to the 2009-10 calendar, eliminating May 3 as a school holiday and ending the year on June 2, one day earlier than previously planned. May 3 is a testing date for advanced placement courses at the high school next year.

A new calendar was approved by the school board for the 2010-11 school year with three different grading periods set for elementary schools, middle schools and the high school to accommodate testing periods.

Classes for the 2010-11 year will begin on Aug. 23, 2010, the earliest date allowed by state law, and the last day of school is set for May 27, 2011.  Elementary schools are set for nine-week grading periods. Middle schools and Westlake High School are set for slightly different six-week grading periods.

Thanksgiving holiday for the 2010-11 school year is Nov. 24- 26. Winter holiday runs from Dec. 20 through Jan. 3. Spring break is set for March 14-18. TAKS tests during that year are set for Oct. 19 – 22, April 4-5, April 25-29 and May 17. Advanced placement testing at Westlake High School is scheduled for May 2-13.

Larry Keiser, the district assistant superintendent of human resources, said the Travis County Appraisal District is projecting a property value increase of less than 2 percent next school year, compared to the increase of 15.5 percent for the 2008-09 school year.

A projected slight decrease in weighted average daily attendance is predicted for next year from $8,043 in 2008-09 to $8,019 next year due to an expected slight decrease in enrollment. Administrators predict enrollment will drop from 7,346 in 2008-09 to 7,301 in the coming school year. Wellman said she will be bringing information for five year projections on enrollment for board review at a later study session.

Preliminary payroll expense projections for 2009-10 include a $1.75 million payroll increase plus a $175,000 increase in heath insurance contributions by the district.

The still-changing budget for the 2008-09 school year at this point reflects a $3.6 million deficit, but further refinement is expected during the next two months.

“It is time this summer to get a better handle on the budget,” Keiser said.

He predicted a final actual budget deficit for the current school year closer to $2 million.

District parent Tammy Leper spoke in open forum, asking board members to raise their hands if they had special needs children.

“I assume that you do not,” she said.

Leper said that the considerations facing parents of children with special needs are different from the school considerations of other parents.

“Seventeen years ago I came into this district and we faced the same (Americans with Disabilities) issues that we face today,” she said. “Are we not remiss in breaking the law and not helping these [special needs] children reach their potential?”

Eanes Elementary School parent Suzanne Shepherd spoke about her perception of the treatment of the parents of children with special needs in the district. She said that parents of children with special needs are not allowed the same rights to visit campuses and classrooms in the district that other parents enjoy.

“As a special ed parent, I must have a district representative accompany me on all visits to my own child at his school,” she said. “It is wrong to restrict the rights of special ed parents to visit campuses in this district.”

Shepherd asked board members to examine special education guidelines as part of the next public board meeting.

Julia Webber also addressed board members during special session, telling them that many parents want district administrators to involve the community in decision-making processes.

“The parents in our community want to fully be involved in the issues,” she said.

Webber asked board members to make a policy that would create more open communication between the administration and parents. She said she perceived a difference in values between the district and many parents.

“It is a difference between [a belief that] bigger is better and a priority on depth of experience,” she said.

Michael Webber told board members he was concerned about the lack of transparency in decision-making and planning processes at the district. He also expressed concerns about the environmental direction of the district building process.

The next board meeting will be a study session at the administration building at 601 Camp Craft Road on June 8 at 7:30 a.m.