The DeLeon ISD Board of Trustees adopted the 2006-2007 district budget and tax rate at a special meeting held on August 28. The budget adopted by the Board calls for total expenditures by the district not to exceed $6,403,089. The budget calls for the district to earn in state revenue and property taxes, along with other revenue streams, $6,548,381.

Included with the adoption of the budget was the addition of a teaching and paraprofessional position to accommodate the growth of students at the elementary campus. Student enrollment at the elementary campus has increased by 35 students since the end of the previous school year. The fourth grade is currently above the state mandated student teacher ratio, requiring action to bring the district into compliance. The additional paraprofessional will be utilized to assist teachers in grades that also have high numbers to allow for more one-on-one attention.

Following the adoption of the budget, the Board then turned its attention to the property tax rate for 2006-2007. As a result of the recent action of the state legislature, local property owners will see a decrease of $0.1108 in the local property tax rate. The rate adopted by the Board was set at $1.2492, with $1.2200 going to the maintenance and operation budget and $0.0292 for the debt service fund. The tax rate will generate approximately $1,639,867 for the general operations budget of the district, or $0.34 of every dollar spent by the district comes from the local property owner. The remaining $0.66 comes from the state and other revenue sources.

As a related item to the adoption of the budget, the Board also adopted the 2006-2007 district salary scale. The scale is a comprehensive approach to managing the district’s 122 employee’s salaries and benefits. All teachers, counselors, and librarians were provided a state mandated salary increase of $2,500 annually. All support staff were provided a $500 annual increase to compensate them for the insurance supplement that had been eliminated by the state.

The new scale adopted for DISD provides an additional local supplement for all teachers, counselors, and librarians, depending on the degree held by those professionals. Support staff individuals also received a local salary increase with the establishment of scales now tied to the state salary schedule. All maintenance, custodial, and cafeteria employees were transitioned to a new standardized hourly scale for the new school year.

“Our staff knows that a lot is expected from them, and they are ready to meet the challenges. Our new salary scale demonstrates the district and Board’s commitment to our staff,” noted DISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Mohundro. “As we strive to be a lighthouse district for the area, the commitment of the staff to meet the challenges and the Board’s commitment to our staff is critical to accomplishing this goal,” he said.

In other matters, the Board approved appraisers and the district appraisal calendar for the administration of the Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS) for all classroom teachers. Teacher appraisals will begin three weeks from the first day of instruction for the current school year and all observations will be concluded three weeks before the last day of instruction.

The Board awarded the 2006-07 fuel bid to Gooden Petroleum.

A new policy related to commencement was also approved by the Board. Under Local Policy FMH, those seniors that have not successfully passed the state mandated student assessment, the TAKS test, will be allowed to participate in commencement activities if they have completed all remediation activities required by the district and have attempted the test at every opportunity provided.

For more information on the district’s tax rate and 2006-07 budget, visit the district’s website at www.deleon.esc14.net/board_of_trustees.htm for more information.