TISD appoints committee for innovation plan

From Staff Reports

Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees held public hearings on the Schools Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas and the District of Innovation plan during a regular meeting Tuesday.

TISD received a rating of Above Standard Schools FIRST rating for their efforts in demonstrating quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources. This rating is based upon an analysis of staff and student data reported for the 2016-17 school year. Senate Bill 875, passed in 1999 during the 76th Texas Legislature, authorized the implementation of a financial accountability rating system for

Texas school districts.

The board also appointed a committee for the DOI plan. As a current TEA-approved DOI, the district is given the opportunity to amend exemptions annually. In doing so, the district must go through the same application steps as was done initially.

The plan will be posted publicly for 30 days and a final committee public meeting will be held during the December board meeting and the plan will be sent to the education commissioner in January following board approval.

There are 799 districts in Texas approved as Districts of Innovation. The DOI concept was implemented through HB 1842, passed in 2015 during the 84th Legislative Session and gives traditional independent school districts most of the flexibility available to Texas’ open enrollment charter schools. School districts in Texas can now seek exemptions from certain requirements of the state plan and districts more local control.

In other business, trustees approved a digital upgrade to the Intrusion Monitoring System to Sonitrol Security in the amount of $57,314. This upgrade will allow TISD to move all security keypads within the district from analog to digital.

Members also approved to rescind a prior proposal award to Cici’s Pizza, which was approved in September 2018, for full service fresh pizza delivery at all schools due to their inability to meet the specifications of the proposal.

A budget amendment was also approved to commit portions of the June 30, 2018 General Fund and Child Nutrition Fund unassigned fund balance to other areas. Eight million will be assigned for construction for future repairs, renovations and betterment of school facilities and $1,000,000 for food service construction for future repairs, renovations and betterment of food service facilities.

Auditors from the firm of Thomas & Thomas, LLP also presented their findings on TISD’s accounting procedures for the 2018 fiscal year and determined that the district continues to maintain sound financial practices. For the 2017-18 fiscal year, TISD ended with a fund balance of $16.6 million, an increase of $365,853 over the previous year. The fund balance at the end of 2017-18 was 29% of expenditures.

Trustees also approved the Texas High School program of studies and course description guide for 2019-20. With the addition of nine new courses, Texas High School students will have a comprehensive academic curriculum that includes 519 courses, 30 of which are advanced placement courses and 90 dual credit courses. Twentyone courses are also available for students to receive certifications in career and technology. areas.