Dr. Jess Butler

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  www.lovejoyschools.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=914&sid=3 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/24/2007    Last Visited: 11/24/2007  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all saying 'Help!' "
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.
  ...
  I would really like to hear Dr. Butler's take on our situation.I really agree with him here when he talks about poor districts.
  ...
  Jess Butler states in the article that he is for a state income tax.That is his solution to the problem.

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  www.lovejoyschools.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=914&sid=b - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 7/4/2009  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent. "It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all saying 'Help!' "
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades. He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.
  ...
  I would really like to hear Dr. Butler's take on our situation. I really agree with him here when he talks about poor districts.
  ...
  Jess Butler states in the article that he is for a state income tax. That is his solution to the problem.

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  DallasNews.com | Dallas-Fort Worth | Local News - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/27/2003    Last Visited: 1/27/2003  

  Jess Butler
  
  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all - saying 'Help!' "
  
  Eanes officials, like those in an increasing number of suburban districts around the state, blame the Texas school-finance system for their difficulties.And they're not optimistic that the current legislative session will bring much relief.
  
  WHAT AREA DISTRICTS ARE DOING
  
  Eleven Dallas-Fort Worth-area districts are considered property-wealthy under the state's school finance system.
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  "I wish every school district could spend as much as we do now," Dr. Butler said."But that doesn't mean Eanes should be forced to spend less.It's criminal what the state is doing."
  
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said."Those things are essential, but we're looking at cutting them."
  
  Desire to be the best
  
  Eanes is running into one of the most difficult problems of the current school-funding system.It is designed to increase equity between the rich and poor and, to a large degree, it's succeeded.
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  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said."Our parents won't stand for just an adequate education."
  
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.If they want an orchestra program, they should be able to have one.Every child in Texas ought to be able to have the sort of education a child in Eanes receives."
  
  That can't be done, he said, without a major infusion of new money.That's why, he said, he supports a state income tax and higher state spending on education.
  
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  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.Legislators, many elected on a "no new taxes" pledge, are facing a $9.9 billion deficit in the current session.Most observers doubt there'll be much if any new money available for education in the next state budget.
  
  So Eanes will keep searching its budget for fat, or at least whatever muscle it feels it can spare, preparing for life a little closer to average.

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  DallasNews.com | Dallas-Fort Worth | Local News:... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/9/2003    Last Visited: 1/9/2003  

  "I spend more time talking about budgets and funding than I do math and science," said Jess Butler, superintendent of the Eanes school district near Austin."What's happened is that public schools, because the state has failed to do its job in funding education, are forced to act as the private schools always have."
  
  The Eanes district, in the affluent suburbs of Austin, expects to send $57 million to the state for redistribution next year.
  
  The district's $100 million budget has a $7.9 million hole in it, said Dr. Butler, who has written a book about the perils of school finance.
  
  In two weeks, the officials will send a letter to district residents that is a flat-out appeal for money, Dr. Butler said.
  
  "Anything they want to give, we'll take," Dr. Butler said.
  
  The district needs an additional $300 per student to make next year's budget work for its 7,152 students.
  
  Book planned
  
  The district also plans to sell a book – that will include tactics and strategies, such as the letter campaign – to other districts facing financial woes, Dr. Butler said.

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  FundOurSchoolsNow.org - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/27/2003    Last Visited: 1/22/2006  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all -- saying 'Help!' "
  ...
  "I wish every school district could spend as much as we do now," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.

• 
  FundOurSchoolsNow.org - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/27/2003    Last Visited: 9/2/2006  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all -- saying 'Help!' "
  ...
  "I wish every school district could spend as much as we do now," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.

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  Joshua Benton » Blog Archive » Wealthy but still in... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/1/2003    Last Visited: 12/19/2006  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all - saying 'Help!'"
  ...
  "I wish every school district could spend as much as we do now," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.

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  Lovejoy Schools Opinion :: View topic - Circling the... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/5/2004    Last Visited: 11/3/2006  

  "We'll be sending out letters to the community in a few weeks, asking for donations," said Jess Butler, Eanes' superintendent."It's the most traditional fund-raiser of all saying 'Help!' "
  ...
  "I don't view those sorts of things as optional or just enrichment," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  "We have an attitude here of having the best, being the best," Dr. Butler said.
  ...
  Dr. Butler, a former consultant to both rich and poor districts, has been studying the Texas school-finance system for decades.He's even written a short book on the subject: Schools Circling the Drain, an odd allegory featuring characters named Dan Druff (a school board member), Kay Oss (the business manager) and Gill O. Teen (the school auditor).
  
  He said that when he talks to superintendents in other districts, they tell him, "Jess, you're cutting programs we never had."To which he replies, "They should be able to have all those programs if they want to, even in poor districts.
  ...
  But it seems Dr. Butler is unlikely to get his wish, at least in the short term.
  ...
  I would really like to hear Dr. Butler's take on our situation.I really agree with him here when he talks about poor districts.
  ...
  Jess Butler states in the article that he is for a state income tax.That is his solution to the problem.

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  LovejoyISD Discussion Group :: View topic - "Circling... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/30/2002    Last Visited: 3/30/2004  

  Editor's note: Texas Lone Star recently talked with Eanes ISD Superintendent Jess Butler, Ed.D., and accountant Jim Plummer, CPA, of Plummer and Plummer Auditing about their school finance publication entitled Schools Circling the Drain: Superintendent and School Board Survival in School Finance, published by Waterford School Services Publishing.
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  Butler: Ed Flathouse, associate commissioner for Finance and Support Systems at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), often refers to schools that have serious financial problems as "circling the drain" or "CTD."
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  Butler: Yes.
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  Butler: The publication is basically a short story about a fictional school district that deals with many of the same issues that I identified in approximately 30 school districts with financial problems I researched last year.
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  Butler: Current projections indicate that approximately 130 Texas school districts will have serious financial problems next year.I am concerned that the leaders of many school districts that are circling the drain do not fully realize that they have pulled the financial plug.I certainly recommend that superintendents and business managers go to the TEA Web Site (www.tea.state.tx.us/) and complete simple financial analysis projections to determine their financial stability.
  
  TLS: Do you believe that the state school finance system has caused many of the finance problems we are seeing in Texas schools?
  
  Butler: Yes, without a doubt we desperately need school finance reform in Texas.
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  Dr. Butler named this character "Dr.Deficit."
  
  Butler: Tom Canby of TEA's School Financial Audit Division developed a list of indicators of financially troubled schools.
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  Butler: Deficit budgeting does happen.
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  Butler: The current- and prior-year audits provide critical information for the school board.
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  Butler: Districts must facilitate cash-flow management and maintain a positive fund balance to take care of emergencies and maintain bond ratings.
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  Butler: It is important to have both short- and long-range planning.
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  Butler: I would add that it is extremely important to protect the district's fund balance.Keep the equivalent of three months of operating expenses in the fund balance as a rule of thumb.

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  Peyton Wolcott - The HB 2264 Saga - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 7/7/2009  

  supe Jess Butler and his successor
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  Left, Jess Butler (PHOTO/Jana
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  Jess Butler, current supe Nola Wellman

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