SCHOOL NEWS
Bowie ISD reviews superior FIRST rating in hearing
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
For the 15th year in a row Bowie Independent School District has received a superior rating in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.
The board of trustees conducted the required public hearing during their Monday night meeting. Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Pastusek made the presentation noting the district received 90 out of 100 points in the review of the 2016-17 school year.
The purpose of FIRST is to ensure school districts will be held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and achieve improved performance in the management of their financial resources.
There are 15 indicators a district is scored on encompassing all aspects of financial practices from compliance with debt, cash on hand versus current investments, liabilities’ ratios, deficit budget and administrative cost ratios.
Pastusek said indicator 10 was the only one where BISD did not receive any points. It asks: “Was the debt service coverage ratio sufficient to meet the required debt service.”
He explained the district ratio was .9599 and BISD had a deficit budget in both the general fund and debt service fund which lowered the ratio.
Patusek said the board opted to not increase the debt service rate because for the past few years it has collected more than was needed.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will swear in its new board members and reorganize its officers when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18.
The agenda opens with canvassing of the election votes, followed by the oath of office to Jacky Betts in place one and Angie Christmas in place two. The board will then elect officers including president, vice president and secretary.
Action items begin with presentation of the 2023-24 outside audit offered by Paul Fleming of Edgin Parkman Fleming and Fleming, PC.
The annual public hearing on the district’s Financial Integrity Rating System report will be presented. The district usually receives a 100% on its report.
Superintendent Blake Enlow will discuss board training opportunities and the junior high all region band hosting on Nov. 19 at the high school. Lee Robertson will give a technology department update on its audit and eSports vulnerability information.
The campus administrators and athletic director will give monthly reports and a soccer club update, while the finance director will give business reports.
Other agenda action items include action on the 2024 tax roll and updates to the board operating procedures.
Special agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency spoke to Bowie High School students during Red Ribbon Week activities last week. The DEA’s In The Air helicopter and four agent/pilots brought the aircraft for students to see up close. They also talked about their careers, as did members of the City of Bowie Fire and Police Departments. BHS Principal Joanne Keeler had her photo taken with the crew. (courtesy photo)
Bowie High School’s Mighty Marching Maroon competed at regional marching contest last week, but unfortunately it did not advance.
Director German Torres said the students did very well and they were proud of their work this season. The band had advanced out of area from the weekend before.
“We came in 16th place (3A region) and the students were a little disappointed, but that is to be expected. We are now setting our sights on our Veteran’s Day program alongside the Christmas program,” said the director.
Nocona High School’s band will compete at area contest in Mineral Wells High School at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2.
The Pride of the Tribe is directed by Randy Brooks. Marching contests are open to the public to attend for an admission price of $5.
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