TISD Trustees Set Aug. 28 As Date To Adopt Budget

August 17, 2007, by MEGAN MIDDLETON Staff Writer

Tyler Independent School District trustees unanimously voted during Thursday?s regular meeting to set Aug. 28 as the date to officially adopt a budget and set a lower tax rate for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

They also voted to propose a tax rate of $1.215 per $100 valuation, which represents a 27-cent reduction. Trustees will not vote to officially set that rate until the Aug. 28 meeting.

The proposed budget for TISD is for about $125.3 million, up about five percent, or $5.9 million, over the current year?s adopted budget of $119.4 million.

More than $3 million of the increase in the proposed budget is for raises ? a $1,200 increase for teachers, a 3-percent midpoint raise for professionals and a 5-percent midpoint hike for clerical and manual trade employees, according to information presented to the board at a budget workshop earlier this month.

The proposed tax rate represents a 27-cent reduction, although the reduction could be as much as 31 cents if trustees chose not to use an optional 4 cents the state is allowing certain school districts to take advantage of this year.

Officials have said the $3 million generated from adding all four pennies will help TISD take care of needs and avoid long-term debt

The overall tax rate reduction is part of a statewide school finance reform that called for school property tax rates to drop from a maximum of $1.50 per $100 valuation to $1 within two years.

The proposed tax rate of $1.215 per $100 valuation is down 18.3 percent from the total current year tax rate of $1.488.

"The proposed tax rate was developed after much deliberation, discussion, research and number crunching by Ms. (Tosha) Bjork (finance director) and her team," Board President Brad Spradlin said after the meeting. "The tax rate reflects how we?re going to fund the budget. It?s a manageable budget for the district without fluff, taking care of our employees and being able to deliver the education that the taxpayers of Tyler ISD expect."

Spradlin added he is glad the district will be able to have a lower tax rate.

A public hearing will precede the vote at the Aug. 28 meeting, which is planned for 6 p.m.

The budget and the tax rate become effective Sept. 1.

Dropout Prevention

Approval from the TISD board Thursday night for a new position at John Tyler High School paves the way for the district to hire a retention facilitator who will be solely focused on keeping at-risk Hispanic students from dropping out at John Tyler.

The position will be part of a pilot program and came about as part of an outgrowth of work by the Hispanic Educational Alliance along with Fourth Partner Foundation, Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid said prior to the meeting.

"Our Hispanic population has been our most at-risk for dropping out for the last several years," Reid has said.

The person hired in the position will target incoming Hispanic ninth-graders at John Tyler, Reid told trustees Thursday. The person will focus on 100 students normally at risk of dropping out.

The district plans to have a person hired by mid September.

According to a draft of the job description for the position, the person is required to be bilingual, have a bachelor?s degree and preferably has social service work experience.

The job goal is to "implement a program which enables Hispanic ninth graders to successfully move on to the 10th grade."

The salary and benefits of the position will be funded by Fourth Partner Foundation, Reid said.

Board Vice President Ron Vickery said Thursday that TISD appreciates the foundation's gift and generosity.

Trustee Michelle Carr thanked the Hispanic Educational Alliance for being a role model for how the community can be involved in TISD.

Tom San Miguel of the Hispanic Educational Alliance also thanked TISD for its help.

Reid said with the extra position at John Tyler focusing on these specific students, it will free up dropout prevention specialists already in place to help the entire John Tyler student population.

Trustee Orenthia Mason said "this is a very important position" and predicted the district will see "great results." She also stressed the importance of educating these students about the opportunities for college scholarships.

"This is a great opportunity for John Tyler," she said.

Religious Expression

Trustees also approved a policy related to students? rights and responsibilities and student expression, particularly religious expression.

A law recently passed by the state Legislature requires school districts to adopt a local policy regarding student expression/religious viewpoints. The policy TISD adopted is a model policy provided by the state and had to be approved by the board and in place prior to the start of school.

Part of that policy states, "The district shall treat a student?s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the district treats a student?s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and shall not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint ..."

The policy also addresses religious expression in class assignments and the freedom to organize religious groups and activities.

Reid has said the policy is put in place to protect student freedom of speech but still gives the district the right to prohibit offensive and vulgar speech.

"Almost of all of it are things that Tyler ISD has been doing already anyway," he said earlier.

Construction

The board also approved more than $378,000 in site improvements to the new Bell Elementary School. Improvements include a new playground area, additional parking and parking lot lighting. The funds will come from the 2004 bond.

Bell Elementary currently does not have a playground area.

Tim Loper, director of facilities, said prior to the meeting that the site improvements could not take place until the old Bell building is demolished.

Demolition of the old building is set to begin Sept. 10 and end Sept. 30. Improvements will begin Oct. 1 and finish in December.

"It may be a little inconvenient for them, but they are excited about getting the old building out of the way and a playground for the kids," Loper said.

Also on Thursday, trustees heard a construction update from Randy Rayford, project manager with The Staubach Company. Rayford told trustees that there was a ?dramatic difference? in the photos of the new Austin, Bonner and Douglas elementary schools he was showing them compared to those from 30 days ago.

He commended the three construction managers at the schools for working hard in light of the rain delays. He also praised the principals for working through some difficult situations.

"School will be ready. ..", he said. "The plan has worked."

The replacement schools for Austin, Bonner and Douglas will be ready for the start of school Aug. 27. Any minor finishing touches from the ?punch list? that need to be done after school starts will take place after school hours, Rayford said.

The replacement facility for Peete Elementary, which will open in January to students, is set to be finished by the end of November, Rayford said.

Trustee Orenthia Mason said, "These are exciting times."

"All these communities deserve these beautiful buildings," she said.

Other Items

The board on Thursday also approved gifts and donations, a resolution for participation in The Cooperative Purchasing Network, an extension of a contract with Suddenlink to televise John Tyler and Robert E. Lee home football games, a service agreement with Region VII Education Service Center, an update from the Texas Association of School Boards, a wellness policy, an interlocal agreement with the Andrews Center, an easement and right-of-way by Oncor for Peete Elementary, student code of conduct changes, a memo of understanding with the Smith County Juvenile Board, a contract with Communities in Schools, a TISD/Tyler Junior College memo of understanding for technical dual credit courses and performance goals for the high school allotment fund.

Trustees also heard a monthly financial summary.

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