Ott's Outlook

We are more than a month into the 2026-2027 school year, and I have been so excited to see what is happening on our campuses across the district as we start the year. Our teachers and staff are engaging students in innovative and creative lessons, and we are continuing to build on the momentum of a tremendous 2025-2026 school year.

I am also extremely proud and grateful that our board of trustees voted to lower the district’s tax rate by 7.5 cents at the September board meeting. The new tax rate is $1.0619, down from last year’s rate of $1.1372, and the district’s lowest tax rate in over 15 years.

TISD was able to lower both the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) portion of the tax rate and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) side of the tax rate due to a combination of factors that includes compression, an increase in residential and commercial taxable values within the district, and property relief measures the Texas Legislature put in place during its last legislative session.

The new tax rate also includes the passage of Proposition A in 2025 that handled the safety needs of TISD, and the passage of the $119.7 million bond (Proposition B) in 2025 that will address facility additions and renovations across the district. We are so grateful for the community’s support of those projects, and I applaud our board members for recognizing the current economic challenges facing our citizens and adopting a substantially lower tax rate while maintaining high-quality educational services. Temple ISD understands the responsibility to not only serve our students and families, but to also be responsible to our community.

The month of October is also Principal Appreciation Month, and while we certainly appreciate our campus leaders for all that they do year-round, Temple ISD will also take a moment this month to celebrate and recognize our principals for all that they do for our students, families, and staff. We count on our principals to set the tone and direction for their campuses by building culture and sustaining campus morale. They oversee the instructional processes, student services, and all campus functions. Their leadership touches the lives of every student, staff member, and family associated with their campus. TISD is truly blessed with a wonderful group of 15 campus principals, and I hope that you will join with me in thanking them for all that they do for our district and its stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Bobby Ott

Temple ISD has a long history of excellence and we have had many, many graduates who have gone on to exemplify our vision to become influential and impactful leaders in their local communities and beyond. Temple ISD Alumni Spotlight will feature alumnus and alumna that have represented our community and our district in a positive way.

To nominate yourself or a Temple ISD graduate, please complete our online Alumni Spotlight Nomination Form. Nominations will be reviewed and candidates selected by the Temple ISD Board of Trustees Policy Committee