Texas Education Agency

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Marble Falls Independent School District (MFISD) had plenty to be proud of when the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its final 2017 accountability rankings on Nov. 14.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor
The Highlander

Marble Falls Independent School District trustees approved a $41.8 million balanced general fund budget for fiscal year 2017-18 during their regular board meeting Monday night after holding a public hearing.

The new budget includes a three percent payroll increase for all staff with additional market adjustments plus an additional $25 per month in health insurance premium benefit for all employees.

The budget assumes a total tax rate of $1.2786, which includes $1.0533 per $100 valuation for maintenance and operations and 22.53 cents for interest and sinking.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The Texas Education Agency has released to the Texas Legislature preliminary ratings of school districts and campuses based on a new accountability system that is set to go into effect in August 2018. The reviews by area educators could best be described as thumbs down.

Marble Falls Independent School District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Wes Cunningham said administrators were told there would be a provisional accountability rating released, but added that the A-F Accountability Ratings are “using a still-in-process methodology that doesn't use any new data.”

“These A-F ratings just released are using the current system data that is being used under our current accountability ratings, in which our campuses and our district got the highest rating possible of meeting the standards,” Cunningham said.