Dipprey on WFISD's goals, priorities in case of cuts

Acting Superintendent Debbie Dipprey said Wichita Falls ISD officials are eyeballing every aspect of the district's budget in a financial review with an independent consultant.

Dipprey reported in financial consultant Gary Patterson's stead during Tuesday's School Board meeting about efforts to get a clear picture of the WFISD's budget and find cost savings to make up a budget shortfall.

"Any dollar that moves through this district is being looked at," she told trustees during a special session Patterson was unable to attend.

More: Dipprey: Most important thing is to put students' needs first

Dipprey said Patterson spent two in-person days at the district gathering information and has been in touch daily by telephone, email and text messages to collect more.

Dipprey said WFISD senior staff members have been meeting with Patterson in long sessions, and they established goals as the district moves forward with dealing with the deficit.

“The first is that any decisions made regarding the budget will have two things in mind: the needs of the students and the needs of the teachers," she said. "Everything will be weighed against that measure.”

Officials will start by looking at programs that may be unneeded, she said.

“If we were to have to make a correction, those will be the first dollars that we would set aside," Dipprey said.

The second impact will come at the district level.

“We want to ensure that district-level services are provided as needed and with the greatest efficiency possible," she said.

But officials will not reach down to make cuts at the campus level unless it is absolutely necessary as trustees have directed them, Dipprey said.

"We know that the work our teachers are doing to support our students is what matters most," she said.

The district has an estimated $6.5 million budget hole and lost approximately 800 students since the pandemic began in March 2020.

School Board members previously approved a reduction in force.

A vocal backlash materialized among principals, teachers and others in response to exiting Superintendent Mike Kuhrt's plan for cuts, which included doing away with math and reading instructional coaches at schools.

More: Did WFISD give Kuhrt a golden parachute? Click here for separation agreement info

The School Board hired Patterson as a consultant to advise trustees about the district's finances and the reduction in force.

On Tuesday, Dipprey said the discussion about WFISD's financial situation will become a wider one, including principals and others.

Once the School Board hears Patterson's report on the district's finances at an April 18 meeting, the conversation will grow to include the community, she said.

“There will be many voices involved, and many voices will be listened to," she said.

The acting superintendent spoke positively about Patterson.

"He is doing his due diligence. He is looking at everything very carefully,” she said.

He also understands WFISD is a unique community, Dipprey said.

“Our schools have unique needs. Our solution cannot be a one-size-fits-all," she said.

At-large Trustee Katherine McGregor asked Dipprey for information about how $45 million in COVID emergency relief funds have been spent so far and what the spending plan is for them in future.

Dipprey said she thought that level of detail was necessary.

WFISD senior staff members and Patterson are also looking at staffing, staff contracts and the effectiveness of programs, she said.

“He has also been working in concert with another provider just, in his words, to ensure that he’s seeing everything clearly, another set of eyes on the problem," Dipprey said.

The plan is for Patterson to deliver key information about the district's finances April 18, including the following:

• An accurate fund balance, which is the district's rainy day dollars.

• Revenue projections for next year versus this school year.

• The projected impact of the budget deficit on staff and program cuts next year.

Gary Patterson Presentation WFISD by Denise Nelson on Scribd

More: WFISD and Kuhrt forge agreement, School Board's search for new superintendent announced

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news, politics and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Dipprey: No cuts at WFISD school campuses unless necessary