Education
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, SIERRA MARTIN & AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Hays CISD renews student services
Texas State to expand research efforts Academic leaders at Texas State Univer- sity gave updates on the university’s aspira- tions for becoming a designated Research-1, or R1, university during The State of Texas State 2024 event on Aug. 23. The details Texas State is looking to receive R1 Carne- gie classification by 2027. The R1 designation measures research investments made to support research conducted on campus. To be considered, universities must have over $50 million in research expenditures and graduate an average of 70 doctoral degrees over three consecutive years, Chief Research Officer Shreek Mandayam said. Texas State has already surpassed the $50 million mark—as of 2024, the university has $160 million in research funding.
Hays CISD adopts lower tax rate, joins litigation The Hays CISD board of trustees unanimously adopted the 2024-25 tax rate of $1.1546 during its regular meeting Aug. 26, and approved a legal services agreement to join a litigation surrounding the Texas Education Agency’s A-F Accountability system alongside over 60 other school districts. Tax rate The adopted $1.1546 tax rate is 0.2% lower than last year, as previously reported by Community Impact , and reflects $0.6669 for maintenance and operations and $0.4877 for payment of principal and interest on debts. Despite a lower tax rate, certified property values in Hays, Caldwell and Travis counties have increased. Agenda documents show last year’s property values totaled $17.87 billion. Values were nearly $19.5 billion this year, an 8.83% increase.
Hays CISD adopted tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25 Interest and sinking: $0.4877 Maintenance and operations: $0.6669 Total $1.1546
San Marcos CISD Tax Rate FY 2024-25
Interest and sinking Maintenance and operations
If VATRE is denied If VATRE is approved
$0.9952
The Hays CISD board of trustees unan- imously approved a memorandum of understanding Aug. 26 with Communities in Schools to assist students at 14 campuses who have high absenteeism, poor academic performance or social service needs. The gist Hays CISD and CIS have entered into the MOU since 2007, per agenda documents. CIS manages students by offering tutoring, help- ing improve attendance, reducing discipline referrals, providing counseling and crisis intervention and more. Additionally, CIS will collaborate with district counseling staff for training. Agenda documents show the MOU renewal for the 2024-25 school year will cost $587,500 and from the general fund.
$1.0152
$0
$0.2
$0.4
$0.6
$0.8
$1
$1.2
SOURCE: SAN MARCOS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
San Marcos CISD places new tax rate on ballot In an effort to help offset the district’s nearly $18 million budget shortfall for the 2024-25 fiscal year, San Marcos CISD officials have decided to place a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. A closer look A VATRE is required when a school board adopts
a tax rate that exceeds the district’s voter-approval tax rate, according to the Texas Association of School Business Officials. The SMCISD board of trustees approved the VATRE during an Aug. 26 regular meeting with a total tax rate of $1.0152. The board-approved tax rate of $1.0152 is above the current voter-approved tax rate of $0.9952. If voters pass the VATRE in November, SMCISD anticipates receiving between $2.7 to $2.8 million in additional funding every year going forward. If the VATRE is not passed by voters, the tax rate would revert to the voter-approved tax rate.
Accountability system litigation Trustees also unanimously approved joining litigation for the TEA’s A-F Accountability system. The litigation centers around the TEA’s system of scoring the academic performance of districts, as previously reported by Community Impact . Plaintiffs in the lawsuit stated that changes to the system could make it “mathematically impos- sible” for schools to receive an “A” rating, and that artificial intelligence being used to grade the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, could impact the test’s validity.
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