The Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees met on Aug. 21 to approve the newly decided 2018-19 tax rate set at $1.425. The tax rate has been the same for the past three years.

The new tax rate includes $1.17 million for maintenance and operation (M&O) and $0.255 for Interest and sinking funds (I&S) which is used to repay bonded indebtedness and other debts.  The new certified appraised values are $2.052 billion.

During Special Reports & Superintendent’s Information to the Board, Superintendent Paul Norton presented ‘Algorithm Predicted Accountability Score vs. Actual Accountability Score.’  The comparison showed the charts related to the recently released A-F Accountability Ratings.

The charts that were developed by Dr. Chris Jackson the executive director of Research, Development & Accountability for Cleburne ISD, showed the school districts and campuses with a high mobility rate, high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, a high diversity level and less ADA funding happen to score at the lowest level.

Norton told the Board he was “pleased that TISD scored an overall B in the categories” despite the district having a prediction score “[of] 77 (C).”

TISD is exempt from raising the prices of student’s meals per the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).  However, prices of adult meals will need to increase to maintain compliance. Adult breakfast meals across all campuses are expected to increase from $2.75 to $2.85 and adult lunch prices will increase from $3.65 to $3.75.

The board also approved for the transfer of $591,750 of construction fund monies accepted via the Tax Maintenance Note to the General Fund for essentially half of the expenses related to the overall $1 million technology infusion for the district. The money will be spent on completing the fiber lines along with the loop from Nash Elementary to Waggoner Creek Elementary and will allow a 10-gigabyte fiber line to run along the east side of TISD for Theron Jones Early Literacy Center, Dunbar Early Education Center, Highland Park Elementary and Spring Lake Park Elementary.