Education
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & CONNOR PITTMAN
PISD trustees approve reduced tax rate for 2024-25
Roadway guidelines under construction Plano ISD is working toward updating its hazardous roadway policy. Why it matters One goal of the new plan is to be more “spe- cific and less subjective” about what qualifies as a hazardous roadway, Steven Ewing, PISD’s chief of business services, said. Any students that are ineligible for regular busing due to living within 2 miles of their school would be eligible for hazardous bus routes if they need to cross a road that qualifies. The district can apply for up to 10% of its regular transportation allotment from the state to fund hazardous bus routes, and Ewing said that the district regularly exceeds that allotment under the current guidelines.
PISD summer learning programs serve 20% more students in 2024 Over 1,000 more students enrolled in Plano ISD’s summer learning programs, according to a staff report. A total of 5,300 students, a 20% year-over-year increase, participated in the district’s summer programs, PISD Director of Expanded Learning Pathways Stacy Singleton said. The big picture Singleton said PISD’s summer programs focus on several aspects, such as helping students earn high school credits, bridging learning gaps for stu- dents and allowing students to explore additional coursework in areas of interest. Per the staff report, there was growth in the number of enrollments in the 2023-24 programs, including:
Plano ISD to join lawsuit against TEA Plano ISD will join a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency regarding the revised accountability system and State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. What you need to know PISD officials highlighted concerns with the lack of third-party validation of the revamped STAAR, along with the fact that it is not mathematically possible for all cam- puses and districts to receive an “A” rating.
6 new summer courses
Advanced vertical robotics
Coding
Plano ISD trustees approved a total tax rate of $1.04245 per $100 of assessed value, which is 3 cents lower than the 2023-24 tax rate. The new rate was unanimously approved during an Aug. 20 work session. What you need to know PISD officials recommended adopting the voter-approval tax rate, which is the maximum a taxing entity can adopt without triggering a Voter-Approval Tax-Rate Ratification Election. It results in a maximum 3.5% in property tax revenue. The PISD rate is divided into two components: maintenance and operations, which covers day-to- day expenses, and the interest and sinking, which is used to repay debt issued by the school district. The M&O for 2024-25 is $0.80510 and the I&S is $0.23735 per $100 of assessed value. Based on the presentation, the over 3-cent reduction in the tax rate came from reducing M&O.
Adopted tax rate
Animal science
Podcasting
Maintenance and operations rate
Interest and sinking rate
Broadcasting
Social media
Fiscal Year
2024-25
$0.8051
$0.237
PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2023-24
$0.237 $0.8405
• 87% growth to students in the elementary pathways to excellence, which bridges learning gaps to catch students up to their grade level • 82% growth in middle school exploration enrollment • 25% growth in high school credit recovery credits earned Quote of note “We’re trying to find innovative and exciting things for students to want to get involved in,” Singleton said.
2022-23
$1.0224
$0.237
2021-22
$1.0518
$0.269
2020-21
$1.0548
$0.269
SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“School districts across the state are being measured by a tool that is not delivered with efficacy.” JERI CHAMBERS, PLANO ISD TRUSTEE
What else Board President Nancy Humphrey explained that residents may still see higher taxes due to increases in appraised property value, which is assessed by appraisal districts.
PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500
ALLEN 1839 N Central Expressway (972) 908-3488
EAST PLANO 3404 N Central Expressway (972) 423-6688
COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821
PLANO NORTH 5420 State Hwy 121 (469) 687-2581
Powered by FlippingBook