Crockett ISD Receives Superior FIRST Rating

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – The Crockett Independent School District Board of Trustees met in a regularly scheduled meeting held on Monday, Sept. 24 to discuss a variety of issues.

The first item addressed by the board was the district’s rating in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).

According to the Texas Education Agency website, “The state’s school financial accountability rating system, known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they improve those practices. The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.”

CISD Business Manger Tamra Scroggins explained the system was two years behind “… so this is 2017-2018 rating based on the 2016-2017 data.”

“This is based on an annual audit, she said. “It is based on our debt and PEIMS (Public Education Information Management System) status. The district received a 98 so we are in the Superior range with an A.”

Crockett SD Superintendent Terry Myers added the FIRST hearing is a state requirement to give CISD residents a chance to learn what is going on with the school district’s finances.

“I believe our principals and administrators have done a great job of handling this,” he said.

As the meeting continued, the board approved the revised DEC (Local) Policy concerning a pool for sick leave.

“You all are aware that if we have an individual who has an extended illness and runs out of leave days here in the district, we have a process where they can request from other employees a donation of days. That way they can avoid a large cut in pay,” Myers said.

He said until recently, school districts could approve the use of local days off but not those granted by the state. Myers indicated there had recently been a change where districts could now accept state days as part of the pool. The matter was approved unanimously.

In other matters brought before the board:

• Consent agenda items were approved.
• The Messenger received the Media Honor Roll award from the district.
• Investment officers for CISD were approved.
• Members were appointed to the local School Health Advisory Committee.
• Contracts with Region VI and Region XI were approved by the board.
• Adoption of the Credit by Examination Audit Process Resolution was approved by the trustees.

 

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].