Facing More Budget Cuts, HISD Finds Way to Increase Class Time and Save $1.2 Million

Parents will be asked to weigh in on plan to add 19 minutes to the school day

February 24, 2012

Implementing uniform schedules across the Houston Independent School District’s 279 campuses would free up $1.2 million while giving the average student an extra 19 minutes in the classroom, according to a budget-cutting option presented to the HISD Board of Education on Feb. 23.

HISD is looking for more ways to reduce spending as the district seeks to address a projected $34 million deficit for the 2012–2013 school year. The loss in revenue is a result of last year’s decision by the Texas Legislature to reduce public education funding by $5.3 billion.

In the coming weeks, HISD will be gathering community input on the streamlined bell schedule option, before making a formal proposal for the Board of Education’s consideration by May 17.

Read the full press release (.pdf) and participate in a short survey about the proposed bell schedule. The survey will be live until Friday, April 13 at midnight. 

Proposed Instructional Times (.pdf)