Hernandez Elementary teachers and staff cheer and wave pompoms and light-up toys as their school’s name is called during the annual roll call competition at the San Marcos Independent Consolidated School District’s annual Convocation before the official start of the school year. The event featured guest speakers, singing competitions, games and drawings to get the staff ready and excited for the school year. Daily Record photos by Denise Cathey
Convocation kicks off new school year
San Marcos CISD earned an “A” from the state in financial accountability for the 2017-2018 school year.
The Texas Education Agency released its preliminary School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating system of Texas) ratings. Eighty percent of school districts and charters in the state earned the highest rating. SMCISD earned a perfect 100 on the School FIRST scale and a financial management rating of “Superior.”
SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona
In total, 836 school districts and 119 charters earned an “A” rating from the state. Another 117 districts and 23 charters earned “B” ratings. Sixty-four districts and 15 charters earned “C” ratings, and five districts and nine charters received “F” ratings.
School FIRST ratings are based on 15 indicators, including the submission of a complete annual financial report and data to the Texas Education Agency within 30 days of a deadline; timely payments to the Teachers Retirement System, Texas Workforce Commission, Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies; enough cash on hand and in current investments in the general fund; a ratio of current assets to current liabilities that is sufficient to cover short-term debt; and an administrative cost ratio below a threshold set by the state.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett
The state’s School FIRST ratings were released last week; new academic accountability ratings will be released today. For the first time, school districts will receive letter grades on a scale of A-F. Individual campuses will begin receiving letter grades in August 2019.
The School FIRST system, created by the Texas Legislature in 2001, aims to encourage public schools to spend as much of their funds as possible for direct instructional purposes.
Mayor John Thomaides
All school districts and charters are required to report information and financial accountability ratings to parents and taxpayers. TEA has formally notified school districts and charters of their preliminary School FIRST ratings. Any district or charter wishing to appeal its rating must submit a written appeal, with supporting evidence, by Sept. 10. Final 2017--2018 school FIRST ratings are expected to be released in October. If no appeal is submitted to TEA by the district or charter school, the preliminary rating becomes final on the 31st day after preliminary ratings are released.
To review the preliminary School FIRST ratings for all districts and charters in the state, visit the TEA's website.
Goodnight Middle School’s sixth and seventh grade art teachers Obdulio Lombardo and Belinda Bourne came prepared with a sign to cheer on their school during the roll call.
