The Van Alstyne ISD Board of Trustees met Thursday evening for its annual Budget Workshop to review the proposed 2026-2027 budget. The district is preparing for formal adoption later this month, with the public hearing and final consideration scheduled for the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, August 17.
During the workshop, trustees examined district finances, projected enrollment, staffing needs, state funding, employee compensation, and upcoming capital projects. No action was taken to adopt the budget during this session.
District leaders reported that enrollment has increased from approximately 1,800 students in the 2019-2020 school year to roughly 3,100 students expected for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget accounts for this growth, particularly with the opening of Charles and Beth Williams Elementary School. This new campus is expected to add approximately $3.66 million to the operating budget, covering additional staffing, utilities, and campus operations.
Administrators noted that more classroom teachers could be added after school begins if enrollment exceeds current projections.
Discussions focused on maintaining small class sizes and remaining competitive in recruiting and retaining staff. The proposed budget includes salary increases for teachers and other staff, along with district-funded benefits such as health insurance contributions, retention stipends, telehealth services, and life insurance. Approximately 83% of the district's operating budget supports personnel.
The proposed maintenance and operations budget represents an 8.76% increase over last year, largely due to staffing costs and the new elementary school. To help balance the budget while preserving flexibility, several planned capital purchases, including buses and certain facility improvement projects, were deferred for one year.
Administrators also reviewed areas where state funding does not fully cover expenses, including student transportation, school safety, special education, bilingual education, gifted and talented services, and dyslexia programming. Local dollars continue to make up a significant portion of these operating costs.
The Board received updates on ongoing construction projects, including the high school auditorium, additional high school classrooms, and a future indoor practice facility. Trustees also discussed preparations for the district's next bond sale, which is anticipated later in the fall.
