Tax Rate To Stay Put For Fruitvale ISD

FRUITVALE—School board trustees have adopted a budget that will keep the property tax rate at its current amount in Fruitvale ISD.

The board adopted a maintenance and operation tax rate of $1.04 and an interest and sinking (debt) rate of .0707 for a total property tax rate of $1.1107 per $100 valuation.

That is projected to be enough for a general fund budget of just over $3.4 million for the 2008-2009 year. The budget includes a small fund surplus of $798.

"It’s a tight budget," FISD Business Manager Susan McCann said as she presented copies of the final figures to board members.

The debt service budget of $96,108 will require a $5,762 transfer from the district’s fund balance, which sat at $35,184 at the beginning of the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

McCann said she got some late relief with the district’s food service budget with the retirement of one employee.

"We went from an $8,000 deficit to just about break even, actually showing a $57 surplus," she said, noting that another employee has been elevated to the cafeteria manager position.

Also in the meeting, the school board approved a measure to allow Fruitvale High School students in the two-period ag mechanics class to receive physical education credit for the course.

Superintendent Bill Boyd said the proposal would provide some scheduling relief for future ag mechanics students now subject to the state’s "4-by-4" curriculum requirement of four units in English, math, science and social studies/economics.

In other matters, the board took the following action:

— Approved a budget amendment for the 2007-2008 budget from instructional salary to counselor salary.

— Approved a teacher appraisal calendar for the 2008-2009 school year.

— Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Van Zandt County Juvenile Probation Department.

— Approved the employee handbook, based on the Texas Association of School Boards’ model.

— Approved a "Commitment to Excellence Contract" for students in the T-STEM Academy.

— Approved a list of student transfers.

— Tentatively changed the board meeting dates for September 2008 and March 2009 to Sept. 23 and March 24, respectively.

— Approved a contract with the Van Zandt Alternative Education Program.

— Approved the district athletic policy and the district cheerleader handbook.