With Houston area school districts announcing massive layoffs ahead of probable state budget cuts in education funding, the Tomball Independent School District is reserving its staffing decisions until state lawmakers finalize the budget.

District spokesperson Staci Stanfield said last week that the district is “expecting a cut, but we just don’t know what it will be.”

She explained that Superintendent John Neubauer has yet to decide if there will be staff and teacher layoffs and will wait until the Texas legislature finalizes the bi-annual budget for 2011-13.

“We don’t know exactly what those cuts are going to look like until we know what the state does,” Stanfield said.

However, surrounding school districts, such as Magnolia ISD, are taking a much different approach, announcing massive layoffs before the budget is approved. It is widely believed the new budget will cut more than $10 billion in education funding.

Last month, Magnolia ISD, facing a $12 million shortfall, announced it was laying off 115 teachers and staff members. Most of those who had their contracts terminated were those with fewer than three years of employment in the district.

Last week, Spring Branch ISD announced 350 layoffs, saving the district $17.5 million. The Houston area school district making the most sweeping cuts, however, is Katy ISD, which is facing a potential cut in funding of up to $62 million in state funding.

Katy ISD announced layoffs of 500 teachers and 50 central office and non-campus staff members.

However, Stanfield explained that Tomball ISD has opted not to announce layoffs, if there are any, before final financial numbers are announced.

“All school districts have a different approach to it,” she said.

Any announcement from Tomball ISD regarding its teachers’ and staffs’ employment may not be coming for some time.

“We have no timetable,” Stanfield said. “They (the legislature) have a deadline. It could be into the summer.”

Meanwhile, Stanfield said she has not heard of any concern about potential job losses from the district’s employees.

“I haven’t heard anything from the teachers,” she said.

Stanfield said the district is “financially sound” and that it takes a “conservative approach to spending.”

“Regardless of what happens, we’re going to take every step necessary to ensure that our students receive the education that is expected in this community,” she said. “We’re just waiting like everyone else is. That’s the hard part.”

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