SCHOOL NEWS
BISD accepts audit, hears concerns about new rating system
By BARBARA GREEN
Bowie School Trustees met for the final session of 2016 Tuesday accepting the 2015-16 audit and hearing about possible issues pending in the 2017 State Legislative session.
The district received a “clean audit,” with no deficiencies reported Stephen Gilland, local certified public accountant who prepared the audit. He touched on the highlights.
The district’s total revenues decreased 14.9 percent ($2.8 million) resulting mostly from a decline in tax revenues and state foundation aide offset by an increase in state and federal funded special revenue programs.
Local tax revenues decreased 5.6 percent ($737,000) state foundation aide decreased by 50.5 percent ($1.5 million. State and federal funded special revenue fund programs increased 27.9 percent $600,000.
The total costs of all programs and services increased 3.4 percent ($594,000) due to increases in costs in several areas with the largest in instruction.
The cost of all activities this year was $18.15 million. Gilland pointed out that $12.47 million was financed with local property tax dollars.
Superintendent Steven Monkres told the board about two major issues discussed at last week’s Texas Association of Mid-size Schools legislative conference in Austin: A-F rating system and vouchers.
The new rating system has not been well-received in the education community and the association is opposed to its implementation. Monkres said the system has no adjustment for different demographics of students.
“We don’t know the rules yet but it appears to be a system set up for failure. It compares districts, noting no difference between Bowie and Southlake ISDs. Any changes will have to come from citizens not just the education community,” said Monkres.
The rating system looks like it will operate on something of a bell curve comparing districts, but not on an equal basis.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
Bowie school trustees began the arduous task of creating a 2024-25 budget during a lengthy workshop this week.
The board also reviewed some possible changes in the student/employee handbooks and codes of conduct.
Superintendent Blake Enlow said the board spent about two hours in discussion Monday night and began crunching numbers; however, many factors still remain unknown including state funding and local ad valorem tax revenue.
Trustees examined where the district stands for the rest of the fiscal year that ends in August. Finance Director Paula Peterson said the district is catching up on the arrival some state revenues, which she hopes will help offset the expect shortfall. The 2023-24 budget adopted with a half-million deficit, but Enlow said they hope to keep that down as much as possible.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
As the Bowie School District launches into its summer projects, several department heads offered their year-end reports to the trustees last Thursday.
Annual reports
Wayne Walker, support services director, told the board the management team for all his departments set a goal to reduce budget expenses this year and so far they are below budget projections as the school year winds down and summer projects kick off.
As of June 6, child nutrition was $235,678.46 below budget; transportation, $217,942.20 below budget and custodial $312,277.44 below budget, for an overall projected amount of $765,898.10 below budget.
“We hope to finish August 2024 under budget to help out the district in recouping some of the adopt deficit budget for 2023-24. We are projecting in the right direction to end the fiscal year,” said Walker.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Bowie High School’s Mighty Marching Maroon Band will host a fundraiser paint party from 6-8 p.m. on June 18 in the high school cafeteria.
Cost is $30 to paint an 11 X 14 pre-traced canvas with $15 of each prepaid ticket going to the boosters. The band boosters will be providing snacks, and all supplies such as paint, brushes and canvas are provided.
Host will be Shannon Adkins of Texas Gals Creative Studio.
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