Lampasas Independent School District Superintendent Randy Hoyer was thrilled with the opening of the 2009-2010 school year.

"Considering there's probably not a single teacher who is in the same classroom as they were last year, the transition went really smooth," he said at Monday night's board meeting.

"Every teacher is either in a new classroom or at a new campus."

In other business, trustees disapproved the 2010 budget submitted by the Lampasas Central Appraisal District by a 6-1 vote.

The budget was proposed to rise more than $17,000 to cover salary increases ($8,826), health insurance ($4,000) and miscellaneous operating expenses.

LISD Board President Jamie Briggs talked with Chief Appraiser Glenda January about salaries in the appraisal district's budget. In addition, Mrs. January told him that her employees' Scott & White health insurance plan increased by 44 percent.

She looked at several options and took a "less desirable" plan, which is still higher than the previous year's, she said, but noted the appraisal district's budget would cover the additional cost.

Briggs said he believes appraisal district employees are deserving of a raise, but he noted LISD employees did not receive an increase in salary this year, with the exception of federal stimulus funds earmarked for teachers for that purpose.

"But the rest of the district did not get a raise, and their insurance premiums increased, too," Briggs said. "We want to help, but the money is just not there to do that, so I don't feel comfortable supporting their budget."

Briggs and trustees Ron Farr, Kirk Whitehead, Dan Claussen, Wesley Crow and Mark Bishop did not approve the appraisal district budget, while Linda Floerke voted for it.

In other action, trustees agreed to an efficiency review audit by the Texas Association of School Boards to determine if staffing levels are adequate.

Numbers will be compared with other districts of similar size, and recommendations will be considered, said the superintendent. Overstaffing could result in reassignments, attrition or letting employees go in all departments.

All trustees voted for the measure with the exception of Claussen.

The LISD should save enough money with its staffing changes to pay for the audit, Hoyer said.

In his enrollment report, he said the most recent figures show the LISD at 3,389, up 113 students from the end of the previous school year.

Lampasas High School enrollment is at 1,011, and administrators are waiting for University Interscholastic League alignment to see if the district will drop back to the ranks of Class 3A.

"If I had to guess, I believe we will remain in 4A," said Hoyer.

The superintendent also noted that no new elementary teachers were hired to comply with the state's mandated 22-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

Two teachers were moved from Kline Whitis Elementary -- one to Taylor Creek and one to Hanna Springs elementary schools.

The district is over the required ratio in one firstgrade class at Kline Whitis, which has 23 students. "We will ask for a waiver from the state and continue to monitor it," Hoyer said.

Some grade levels are maxed out, he said. "If any new students come in, at this point, we will have to put them where room is available," he said.