EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Georgetown ISD & Texas
HIGHLIGHTS GEORGETOWN ISD The district held a two-day reuni cation training facilitated by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation in late June. Funded by a special grant, the training demonstrated best practices for handling, organizing and reunifying students and sta who have experienced human- caused, technological or natural disasters. According to the district, this training would allow for a uni ed response between the district and law enforcement. GEORGETOWN ISD In partnership with Lone Star Circle of Care, the district Health Center at Richarte High School is oering physical-only exams to GISD students for $35 this summer. These appointments will satisfy the physical health exam requirement for GISD athletics, career and technical education classes, and ne arts programs. Georgetown ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning at 507 E. University Ave., Georgetown. 512-943-5000. www.georgetownisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER
Board approves budget with $5.8M general fund shortfall
High school students improve STAAR scores
BY DANICA LLOYD
BY CLAIRE SHOOP
TEXAS Standardized testing scores in all ve high school end-of-course exam subjects—Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History— increased this spring compared to last year, showing continued academic recovery in the aftermath of pandem- ic-related disruptions, according to a June 30 news release from the Texas Education Agency. Some context: Because the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness were redesigned in 2023 to emphasize writing and better align with classroom instruction, this year’s scores cannot be directly compared to those of previous years. The details: In four of the ve subjects, testing scores surpassed prepandemic levels. Algebra I saw gains year over year, but scores were six percentage points below 2019 scores.
SPENDING PRIORITIES Instruction expenses top the list of the district’s ve largest budgeted expenditures for scal year 2023-24.
GEORGETOWN ISD The board of trustees passed a budget with a $5.8 million shortfall for scal year 2023-24, meaning projected expenditures outpace forecast revenues. What o cials are saying: GISD Chief Financial Ocer Jennifer Hanna said the gap is based on projections and could change throughout the year as sta monitors the budget. “We have worked this year to reduce our decit and have come out better than budget,” Hanna said. “We hope to do the same for next year.” The breakdown: Of the $192.2 million projected expendi- tures in the general fund budget, $82.4 million will go toward instruction, according to GISD.
Expense
Cost
Instruction
$82.4 million
Recapture payments
$49.7 million
Maintenance
$14.9 million
School leadership
$8.8 million
Transportation $5.8 million
SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
While the board will approve the tax rate later this summer, this estimate accounts for an $0.08 decrease in the maintenance and operations component of the rate, which funds daily district functions, Hanna said.
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