School board to review proposed budget, tax rate, dress code changes

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

The CCISD board of trustees will formally receive the proposed budget for the 2017-2018 school year, along with the proposed property tax rates for the district, during their monthly meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the CCISD Administration board room, located at 703 W. Ave. D.

The proposed tax rate is $1.22 per $100 valuation, the same as the current year, which includes $1.04 per $100 for maintenance and operations and $0.18 per $100 for the district’s debt service payments. 

The budget for the 2017-2018 school year anticipates $71,890,339 in revenue from a combination of state funding, local revenue, Federal funds and in TRS in-kind funds. The budget would leave the district with an estimated ending fund balance of $64,843,255. The expenditures, which match the revenue, do not include the district’s child nutrition fund or the debt service which are listed separately at $3,563,607 and $4,700,504, respectively. 

The CCISD student handbook has some proposed changes for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year up for consideration by the board. Some of the changes include bullying definitions as per new state legislation, along with a few changes to the dress code for the junior high and high school campuses. 

For purchases over $25,000, which must be approved by the board, the district’s insurance annual policies with the Texas Association of School Boards are up for approval and amount to $397,073. The insurance is for property and liability coverage, as well as Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment Compensation.

The board is also being asked to approve the election order for the Nov. 7 election of three school board members, along with contracts with Coryell and Bell Counties for the election. 

Two joint use of facilities are up for approval tonight, between the school district and the City of Copperas Cove and the Boys & Girls Club. 

A memorandum of understanding between the district and America’s Drug Free Productions, Inc. will also be presented for approval this evening. The terms of the MOU involve the district paying ADFP $5,000, and in return ADFP will have several deliverables to provide, among them at least five CHAMPS positive recreational and social experiences for CCISD students such as age-appropriate music concerts, camping, fishing, horseback riding, skeet shoots, movie nights, video game tournaments, and table games. ADFP will also provide at least five CHAMPS character education programs for CCISD students and/or parents that focus on eight topics: honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, respect, citizenship, and work ethic. 

Recognitions this evening include community partners who contributed to CCISD’s new teacher orientation, along with campus communications liaisons who will be recognized with Newsmaker Awards.