SMCISD Board votes for lower tax rate, receives COVID-19 updates

The San Marcos Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees approved for a lower tax rate than last year’s.

The board set a tax rate during Monday’s meeting of $1.189 per every $100, which is a decrease from last year’s total rate of $1.313989 per $100, by a 5-2 vote. The maintenance and operation tax rate was set at $0.9172 per $100, while the trustees set a tax rate of $0.2727 for interest and sinking. While the tax rate would be lowered, homeowners may still see an increase because of increased home value.

Additionally, the board also voted to accept the certified appraisal rolls for SMCISD.

The trustees also received an update regarding the district’s COVID-19 learning survey. Andrew Fernandez, SMCISD executive director of communications and community relations, stated that the district received 6,854 students returned their learning surveys. Nearly 4,200 students — 4,175 — chose to continue online learning following the first four weeks of virtual learning, while 2,679 students chose to return to in-person learning, beginning on Oct. 5.

SMCISD Deputy Superintendent Monica Ruiz-Mills said teachers won’t be expected to remain in their classrooms for the full day when classes begin on Sept.

8. Additionally, teachers will come in one third at a time based on schedules developed in collaboration with their respective campus leaders. Athletic Director John Walsh announced a partnership with Urgent Care for Kids, which will allow the district to test its athletes for COVID-19 for free. He added that the district hopes to expand this to its other University Interscholastic League activities.

During the district’s academic update, it was announced that SMCISD plans to add two ethnic studies courses to its social studies curriculum — Mexican American studies and African American studies — beginning in the fall of 2021.

In other action, the trustees also approved early and election day voting sites and extended early voting hours during Monday’s meeting. The board approved an agreement for the purchase of attendance credits, and authorized the board president and secretary and the superintendent to execute the agreement on behalf of the district.

The trustees approved a request to extend the start of the 2020-2021 school year transition beyond the four-week limit waiver, which would push the return to in-person learning into November. The approval, however, only allows the superintendent to extend virtual learning if needed. The district still plans to have students return to on-campus learning if they’ve chosen to on Oct. 5. The measure passed 6-1.

The board will hold a special meeting this upcoming Monday to hold a human resources accommodation procedures workshop. The meeting will be held by videoconference and begins at 6 p.m.

ncastillo @sanmarcosrecord.com

Twitter: @Nick_Castillo74