Crowley ISD Boardroom Rewind
Aug. 31, 2023 - Meeting Highlights
Crowley ISD Sets Lower Tax Rate
The 2022-23 total tax rate was $1.4429. The new tax rate is more than 18 cents lower than the 2022-23 rate.
Crowley ISD's Maintenance and Operations tax rate has decreased as a result of tax rate compression required by state law. The Interest and Sinking rate, which pays for debt service, has remained stable at 50 cents.
McFarland Details Concerns about TEA Rating System
Superintendent Dr. Michael McFarland shared with trustees an overview of why Crowley ISD is among a growing number of school districts challenging what the Texas Education Agency is calling an accountability reset in a lawsuit.
"We have a moral, ethical and professional responsibility to take a stand and challenge the (Texas Education) Commissioner to take a second look," McFarland said.
There are concerns about the transparency, reliability, validity and timeliness of the system, based on what's known about it.
"We are three weeks into the school year," McFarland said. "We are well beyond the hiring process. We are well beyond the budgeting process, and we still to this day can't articulate to our staff, to our teachers, to our parents, the results from last year. And neither can we make any kind of modifications to our strategy going forward because we are still unsure about how the current system is going to be applied to the prior year's results.
"We are getting ready to start September, and we still cannot articulate to our campuses whether they did a great job last year or need to improve."
McFarland said Crowley ISD welcomes accountability.
"I just believe that an accountability system that's not clear, that's not transparent, that's not valid, not reliable and not timely will send messages to our parents and to our community that are counter to the fact that our teachers are working really hard, our students are making progress — and we believe the system should report that."
CISD is in the process of developing school quality report cards based on a number of factors, including academics, discipline/safety, enrollment, teacher information, student supports, attendance and parent and student engagement.
Board Approves Resolution Related to Campus Safety
Trustees approved a resolution claiming a good cause exception under House Bill 3 from the 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature and establishing an alternative standard for campus safety.
House Bill 3, effective Sept. 1, adds new Texas Education Code section 37.0814, requiring each school board to, absent a good cause exception, ensure at least one armed security officer – specifically, a commissioned peace officer – is present during regular school hours at each campus.
A school board can claim a good cause exception to this requirement due to lack of funding or qualified personnel. If the board claims a good cause exception, it must provide an alternative standard that may include reliance on a school marshal or an employee or contracted individual who has completed the handgun safety course required for handgun license holders and is authorized to carry a firearm by the district.
In Crowley ISD, the alternative standard will include:
- Continuing to use 14 officers from the Crowley ISD Police Department to support, monitor and patrol all campuses daily
- Providing the opportunity for up to 15 campus monitors to become commissioned security officers upon completion of DPS Level III training courses
Day of Leadership & Service Set for Sept. 5
Crowley ISD is collecting canned food and clothing items to honor the leadership and service modeled by former Superintendent Dr. Sidney H. Poynter during his 40 years of service to the district.
Food and clothing donations will be accepted at all Crowley ISD campuses during the week.
Food donations will serve families and individuals utilizing food assistance programs. Clothing donations will benefit clothing voucher recipients. Items can also be turned in directly to the Crowley House of Hope.
QUESTIONS:
Rashad Muhammad
Director of Student Engagement and Parent/Community Partnerships rashad.muhammad@crowley.k12.tx.us
College Football in Crowley ISD!
Crowley is excited to announce a new partnership with Texas Wesleyan University that will allow the university to play its home football games at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium for the next two seasons.
Benefits of Partnership:
- All students can attend TXWES games for free with an ID
- All CISD Staff can attend TXWES games for free with an ID
- Exposure to more partnership and sponsorship opportunities
- Opportunity to host more events through established partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities for our students and athletes
- Employment opportunities for community members and CISD staff to work the games
2023 Texas Wesleyan Football Schedule at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium:
- 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 — Ottawa University of Arizona
- 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 — Oklahoma Panhandle State University
- 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 — St. Thomas University-Miami
- 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 — Wayland Baptist University
- 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 — Louisiana Christian University
Front row (L-R): Nedra Robinson, board secretary; Superintendent Dr. Michael D. McFarland;
Dr. La Tonya Woodson-Mayfield, board president; Gary Grassia, board first vice president
Back row (L-R): June W. Davis, board member; Kelicia Stevenson, board member;
Daryl R. Davis II, board member; Dr. Mia Hall, second vice president
MEETING VIDEO: To watch a recording of this meeting, please click here.