Liberty Hill Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “A - Superior Achievement” for the 2023-24 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) at the Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. The “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Liberty Hill ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

School FIRST is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

I’d like to highlight that we have had an audit (September 2024 Efficiency Audit) and the November 2024 School FIRST rating that proves we are doing more with less and that we are not wasting money or mismanaging funds,” said Board Trustee Chris Neighbors.

Board Vice President Kathy Major continued, “Our state leadership has said openly that schools are mismanaging funds; this is the state assessment, and according to this, we are superior in our efficiency and we are free of any material weaknesses. People also say we are top heavy in administration, yet we are below the state average, and these administrators are working as more than one person, without being compensated for it. Finally, we have been accused of not being transparent, but all of the monthly financial reports and efficiency audits are on our website for anyone to read. I am so proud of our financial department. I will not entertain any more insults that we are wasting or being frivolous with our funds.”

To view these audits, please visit our Financial Reports website.

The TEA developed School FIRST in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999 and amendments under House Bill 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013. TEA assigned one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “A” for “Superior Achievement,” followed by “B” for “Above-Standard Achievement,” “C” for “Standard Achievement” and “F” for “Substandard Achievement.”

Public Comments

• There were no public comments during this meeting.

Public Hearing

• Liberty Hill ISD held a School FIRST public hearing for the purpose of presenting an overview of School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) presenting LHISD's rating and allowing public comments on the report. This is the eighth year that Liberty Hill ISD has earned the State's highest rating!

Communication Items - District Updates

• Technology Network Update. Executive Director of Technology Gregg Burcham and Chief of Operations Mark Willoughby presented on short, medium, and long-term technology infrastructure project needs.
• Bond Project Forecast. Director of Construction Dustin Akin and Chief Financial Officer Rosanna Guerrero discussed the timeline and updates on current bond-related projects.
• 2024-25 Budget Update. LHISD did not get the majority approval to the Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election and revenue projections had to be reduced accordingly leaving LHISD with a budget deficit of $7.5 million. Liberty Hill will look for ways to cut the current budget to minimize the deficit to the extent possible without compromising student learning. Moving forward and planning for next year LHISD will work towards a balanced budget.
• 2025-2026 Budget Timeline
• January: Current Year budget review, next year projection
• February: Board budget update
• March: End of year demographic report
• April: Property values certified estimates
• March-July: Board budget updates
• July: Property values certified values
• August: Board adopts 2025-26 budget and tax rate
• August: Board considers calling for Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election
• LHISD Superintendent Snell shared school and operations updates.
• Legislative session has started and over 1,500 bills were filled the 1st week.
• LHISD will explore SB 1882 allows for public and charter school partnerships in create innovative educational opportunities and increase revenue
• Grow your own grants. The LH Education Foundation will deliver five $1,000 grants to current paraprofessionals seeking to be certified teachers.
• Purple Santa is underway to bring Christmas joy and will be accepting donations now - Dec. 5 at all district campuses and Central Administration.
• As part of the 2023 Bond, there will be a ribbon cutting for the Special Education 18+ building on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

• District enrollment is at 9,856 as of Nov. 15, 2024.

Consent Agenda

• The Board approved all consent agenda items to include:
• Financial reports
• Purchases over $50,000
• Job Order Contract (JOC) Vendor
• Contracted services for Student Support Services
• Food service, enrollment, Bond status, and ADA reports

Action Items

• The Board approved the adoption of a resolution to set the 2024-25 tax rate to $1.1669 with slight compression from the prior year.
• The Board approved secure vestibule improvements for Bill Burden Elementary and Rancho Sienna Elementary as presented by Chief of Operations Mark Willoughby and Director of Construction Dustin Akin. These funds will come from the 2021 and the 2023 Bond programs.
• The Board approved the TEA district vulnerability assessment.
• The Board approved accepting resignations and the employment of personnel.

The next regular board meeting will be December 16, 2024.

Click here to listen to the Nov. 18, 2024 board meeting.

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Liberty Hill ISD. Building Champions in Academics, Character, and Community

Email: superintendent@libertyhill.txed.net
Website: libertyhill.txed.net
Location: 301 Forrest Street, Liberty Hill, TX, USA
Phone: 512-260-5580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.snell.585
Twitter: @s_snell