Tioga ISD received word that its accreditation status is Accredited-Probation, which should have been released previously for the 2023-24 year.
The state cited Tioga ISD's failing scores for the FIRST ratings in 2021, 2022 and 2023, which reflected the fiscal year budgets from 2020, '21 and '22, with the district communication regarding the announcement saying, 'a status of Accredited-Probation means that a district exhibits deficiencies in performance that, if not addressed, will lead to revocation of the district’s accreditation status.'
'This is delayed,' Superintendent Josh Ballinger said. 'It is confusing to everyone involved.'
The accreditation rating is based on academic performance and fiscal performance.
Board President Dallas Slay added that the issues Tioga ISD faces are on the financial side. 'It has absolutely nothing to do with our academics,' he said. 'Our academics are far better than many of the districts in our area and continue to be successful despite everything that we've been through the last couple of years.'
Ballinger again summarized the work the district has done since 2023 to correct the district's financial standing.
'Part of what you have to do to satisfy their requirements is [show] what you're doing differently,' he said.
He referenced the district's letter, which can be found at bit.ly/48CrwO6, that details the financial work TISD has done.
The issue may be a revolving one, Ballinger added.
'We'll have a little bit more to sort through as the year progresses here, because this is the '2324 notification,' he said. 'Unfortunately, we did not pass the '23 or '24 FIRST rating either. The 24 is still being debated through our appeal process, and everything ties together.'
The Region 10 Service Center has been reassuring about what the Texas Education Agency may do, Ballinger added.
'They are not in the business … of making it more difficult on schools or trying to close schools,' he said. 'It is strictly the process that is in statute now.'
Two Tioga Middle School students were recognized at the meeting as Students of the Month, Channing Holbrook and Coraline Hinze.
Tioga Middle School student Coraline Hinze also receives a student of the month award from Principal Pamela Moore at the Oct. 20 meeting.
