SCHOOL NEWS
Uncertainty still reigns for state school funding, accountability rating
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie School Trustees learned there is still lots of uncertainty about what the Texas Legislature may or may not do about state funding, and the accountability system’s future could lie with a court decision.
During this week’s board meeting Superintendent Blake Enlow updated the board on state actions, as well as the local bond issue campaign. While the district cannot publicly advocate for the bond, Enlow has spent hours conducting town hall meetings and talking with clubs and district staff about the $65.8 million bond plan.
There is one last town hall at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 in the junior high. Enlow said the turnout has been low overall and there are plans to create a virtual town hall citizens could access through the district’s YouTube channel.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
(Top photo) Bowie ISD Principals Joanne Keeler, high school, Jason Childress, intermediate, Kathy Green, elementary and Jeneanne Fleming, junior high received jackets this week as a thank you from the school board during Principal Appreciation Month.
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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