The Tioga school board discussed enrollment numbers and the Texas Financial Integrity Rating System at the Monday meeting.
The district passed the Texas Education Agency’s FIRST rating for the fiscal year 2025.
“We're going to be at a 70 until we can get the repayment done with the state,” superintendent Josh Ballinger reiterated from last month’s meeting.
Ballinger added that if it weren’t for the cap of 70, the district would be at a 72 because of improvements to the debt load.
“Things are still looking up,” TEA Conservator Dr. Karen Wiesman said and added that they are looking to start the 2027-28 budget.
At the next meeting in October, financial advisors are expected to answer questions about paying off debt, restructuring debt and other debt-related questions.
“We are very happy to report that we moved $850,000 last week into an investment account through Lone Star, just as we've been doing with our general fund,” Ballinger shared. “So that's making money in that particular chunk of money will be what we looked at with paying off the INS side, the general obligations side.”
Enrollment has dropped, Ballinger shared.
Two years ago around this time, there were 658 students; last year that number dropped slightly to 618; currently it's at 549. The main cause is attributed to the class of 2026 graduating 74 students and only 28 kindergarteners to “replace” the seniors.
“We can use some more kids, particularly in seventh grade and below,” Ballinger said.
District-wide attendance is 96.24%, but the goal is higher, especially early in the school year, he said.
At the meeting, the board also approved the 2026-27 Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Basic Plan, along with the Reunification for Schools Annex to the Emergency Operations Plan.
The board voted to make a few tweaks to the verbiage of the Student Outcome Goals for 2026-27 to be presented at a future meeting.
Judith Owens, the newest board member, was sworn in for Seat 5 during the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, Ballinger thanked community members for their contributions.
Also at the meeting, second-graders Emily Wynn and Dixie Dillard were recognized as the Students of the Month.
