August 15, 2001
The Honorable Rick Perry
The Honorable William R. Ratliff
The Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney
Members of the 77th Legislature
Commissioner James E. NelsonFellow Texans:
I am pleased to present this report on the progress of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) in implementing my Texas School Performance Review (TSPR) recommendations.
In March 2000, TSPR released the results of a review of the district's operations. This review offered 154 recommendations to improve operations and save taxpayers nearly $28.3 million by 2004-2005. Cumulative net savings from all recommendations (savings less recommended investments) would reach more than $25.1 million by 2004-05. The review also noted a number of SAISD's exemplary programs and model services provided by district administrators, teachers and staff.
After one year, we returned to check on how well the district's leadership put these proposals into practice. Since the review, SAISD has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, 145 of the proposals, or 94 percent. The district has saved nearly $6.2 million to date and expects savings to reach almost $34.8 million in the coming years, significantly exceeding TSPR's estimates.
I applaud the board and superintendent for taking these steps, but urge continued diligence to ensure that students, teachers and taxpayers receive the maximum possible benefit from every dollar spent in SAISD. Nothing is more important than education, and our children are our most precious resource.
This report is available on the Internet at http://www.window.state.tx.us/tspr/sanantoniopr/.
Thanks for all that you do for Texas.
Sincerely,
Carole Keeton Rylander
Texas Comptroller
