The Levelland ISD school board met on April 15 for their regular meeting.
LISD CFO Teresa Montemeyer presented the monthly financial report for the period ending March 31; the board approved the report.
The board approved the certification of provision of instructional materials presented by Donna Pugh, director of curriculum and specials programs. In accordance with the Texas Education Code, schools are required to annually certify that students have access to instructional materials covering all Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all required subjects, except physical education.
Additionally, school systems are required to certify that they protect against access to obscene or harmful content in compliance with the requirements of certification under the Children’s Internet Protection Act and any other law or regulation that protects students from such content.
In other business, the board approved the replacement of the turf at Hockley County Credit Union Football Stadium using Field Turf/Tarkett Sports for the project. The project is expected to cost about $549,697, barring any alternate pricing. The project includes removal and disposal of current synthetic turf surfacing, installation of the artificial in-filled grass surface on a suitable base, an eight-year third-party prepaid insured warranty on the FieldTurf, inlaid football markings, center and sideline logos, logo at Coach box, Gmax test upon installation and FieldTurf FieldSweep maintenance equipment.
A lengthy discussion was held concerning budget parameters for the 20262027 school year as the board of trustees prepares to adopt a budget and tax-rate. Factors will be under continuous analysis during the budget development process. Key budget development personnel include Dr. Don Heseman, superintendent, and Teresa Montemeyer, LISD CFO, and the board of trustees.
Topics considered in budget parameters include enrollment and demographics, current fiscal year budget, revenue projections, improving cost effectiveness or operational expenditures and long-range compensation plans.
The current analysis to be considered includes an expected enrollment decrease of about 70 students, decreasing state funding. Student allotments are assessed at $6,215 per student, which translates to $435,050 per school year and doesn’t include Special Population weights. Average dao;u attendance, which is the key funding source, shows the school must maintain a 92% or better average district-wide, since the budget is based on enrollment.
Demographic changes indicated the potential need of additional accelerated instruction addressing the economically disadvantaged population decrease and atrisk population increase and Special Education Programs. Funding sources for those include Title 1 and State Compensatory Education.
(See “LISD meeting” continued on page 2) The 5-Year Student Transfer report indicated that transfer out students exceeded the transfer in students, for a $2.5 million annual loss.
Included in the budget parameters was also the property insurance which is projected to increase by 15% or an increase of $112,477 for a total of $862,326.
Based on the 98% tax collections for both M&O and I&S, the school must ensure adopted budget receivable and state revenue. There was no change in state funding, with a deficit budget in 2025-2026.
Child nutrition, which includes free breakfast and lunch district-wide for the community eligibility program, for one year of FMSC RFP is to be considered.
Taxable value annually shows a historical trend for LISD with a loss in taxable value/compression/HB2. As local revenues decrease, state revenue increases, VATRE vs. no VATRE. Projected property value grown shows an upcoming M&O compresses and a possible projected tax rate of M&O $0.6922 and I&S $0.26.
The Federal funding (ESSA) exhibited all campuses decreased economically disadvantaged. Revenues are based on annual estimates of income and poverty statistics via the census bureau. Special population state allotments according to TEA Guidelines must meet required threshold spending per program and funding is based on student demographics submitted to TEZ through PEIMS.
Long range compensation plans include pay raises for teachers and staff, staffing guidelines and evaluating the TASB study to ensure market competitiveness, as well as employee benefits. Health insurance contributions are $335 monthly on a volunteer basis.
Finally, improving the cost-effectiveness of operation expenditures for campus budgets includes enrollment by campus with allocations for the basic allotment, library, staff development, health services, physical education, state compensatory, gifted and talented, special education, dyslexia, career and technical and bilingual and reducing approximate levels of campus budget allocations ensuring costeffectiveness across all areas.
Also department budgets to reduce operating expenditures and reduce in areas that are feasible, and prioritize federal programs funding (Title I, $751,000) which could face a possibly a reduction.