Reprint from the Progress Times - August 31, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

SISD approves 2007 budget

Just before their regularly scheduled meeting, the Sharyland Independent School Board held a public hearing regarding the district’s 2007 budget, which was later approved in the board meeting.

During the public hearing, the major budget elements and highlights were presented. Sharyland is projecting a total enrollment of 8,790 students, which represents a 6.25 percent growth over last year.

Along with this growth in student population comes a growing budget. The total projected revenue budget for SISD for the coming year stands at $73.6 million, which represents a 12.7 percent increase over last year’s revenue. The drastic increase in revenue is mirrored by an increase in expenditures. Last year’s expenditures were approximately $64.9 million while this year’s are being projected at $72 million.

Despite the budget growth, the district is lowering its tax rate. This year the tax rate is $1.185 while last year’s was $1.545, which puts the district at its lowest tax rate since 2002.

In the regular board meeting, the board was apprised of the district’s latest accountability ratings by Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction Melissa Martinez.

Under the accountability provisions in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, all public school campuses, school districts, and the state are evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Districts, campuses and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on three measures: reading/language arts, mathematics and either Graduation Rate (for high schools and districts) or Attendance Rate (for elementary, middle and junior high schools).

If a campus, district or state receiving Title 1, Part A funds fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years, that entity is subject to certain requirements such as offering supplemental education services, school choice or taking creative actions.

Under these federal guidelines, Sharyland ISD, as a district met AYP as did all but one campus, Sharyland High School who failed to meet the standard in Reading Performance Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

The state places schools in one of four categories.

The Exemplary category is reserved for those schools were at least 90 percent of all students pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test overall and on each of five subsections (Reading/ELA, Writing, Social Studies, Math and Science); in addition, each ethnic "subgroup" must also meet the 90 percent criteria overall. To receive an Exemplary rating a school must also have at least 90 percent of all students pass the State-Developed Alternative Assessment II (SDAA II) test, which is required for only those students for whom the TAKS test in not an acceptable measurement. At least 95 percent of all students must also either have completed or are continuing their education four years after entering high school.

The second highest rating is Recognized. The criteria are 75 percent pass rate on TAKS and SDAA II, an 85 percent on Completion Rate and a 0.7 percent on Dropout Rate.

Academically Acceptable is the third highest rating at its criteria are 65 percent on TAKS Subsections "Social Studies", "Reading/ELA", and "Writing", 45 percent on "Mathematics", and 40 percent on "Science", 50 percent on SDAA II, 75 percent on Completion Rate, and 1.0 percent on Dropout Rate.

Academically Unacceptable is the worst possible rating. Any school or district not meeting all of the above criteria for Academically Acceptable is given this rating. A district with two consecutive Academically Unacceptable ratings can be closed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

However, parents with children in the Sharyland school district need not to worry about that as six schools (B.L. Gray Junior High, Bentsen Elementary, Garza Elementary, Hinojosa Elementary, Martinez Elementary and Shary Elementary) all received the top rating of Recognized.

Sharyland High School and Jensen Elementary both received ratings of Academically Acceptable. The district as a whole also received the Academically Acceptable rating.