Levelland ISD moves forward with budget, tax rate planning process

  • A NEW CHURCH STEEPLE - Pictured is a construction crew finishing the installation of a new church steeple at the First Baptist Church in Levelland located along Houston Street.
    A NEW CHURCH STEEPLE - Pictured is a construction crew finishing the installation of a new church steeple at the First Baptist Church in Levelland located along Houston Street.
  • ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS - The Texas Department of Transportation is set to begin work on a project that will make roadway improvements to more than 3.8 miles of U.S. 385 in the City of Levelland. Drivers should anticipate various long-term lane closures and speed limits reduced throughout the project and are advised to stay alert. Drivers can expect slow moving traffic and delays, and are urged to use caution when driving through the work zones, since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic.
    ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS - The Texas Department of Transportation is set to begin work on a project that will make roadway improvements to more than 3.8 miles of U.S. 385 in the City of Levelland. Drivers should anticipate various long-term lane closures and speed limits reduced throughout the project and are advised to stay alert. Drivers can expect slow moving traffic and delays, and are urged to use caution when driving through the work zones, since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic.

    The Levelland ISD Board of Trustees held a regular meeting Wednesday which included a few housekeeping items and establishing the date for a public hearing to discuss the proposed budget and proposed tax rate.

    It was explained that state law requires a public hearing prior to the adoption of a budget and tax rate. Any taxpayer in the district may be present and participate in the hearing.

    The board is required to adopt the budget at this meeting as a separate item on the agenda as well as the tax rate as a separate item. The Board may conduct other business at the meeting properly posted under the Texas Open Meetings Act.

    The administration recommended that the board hold this hearing a special board meeting August 28. The administration also recommended a possible tax rate of $0.6792 for M&O and $0.2600 for I&S for a total tax rate of $0.9392. Advertising of actual rate will be made prior to meeting and required by law. The proposed rate is decrease of .035 Cents from 20232024.

    The board unanimously agreed on the agenda item.

    The board was provided with an update on the facilities that are requiring repairs due to the storms. Levelland ISD Superintendent Becky McCutchen explained that the district is still waiting for the insurance adjusters report with all the assessed damages.

    McCutchen added that the there is no hard timeline to receive the report, but the company has suggested by the end of next week.

    The district is aware that there will be repairs made once the report is received, but until then the district’s maintenance department is currently fixing things that they can.

    Another hurdle is the strict guidelines provided by FEMA for businesses which will make the process move slower. McCutchen addressed one of the rumors of the district being unable to use the football field for the upcoming season that will begin at the end of August.

    The damage on the visitors stands is still there but the goal is once the district receives the report they will allow the district to fix the damage. For the first game of the season on August 30, the Lobos will be hosting Dalhart. The plan moving forward for that game would be to split the home stands.

    Given that Dalhart has roughly 30 members to their band and the long distance may deter Dalhart fans from attending the game, the district does not anticipate splitting the stands equally. McCutchen emphasized again that the season will be moving forward accordingly with the first home game being altered stands wise.

    Moving forward, the board received a Child Nutrition Reauthorization update regarding meal increases for the upcoming school year.

    According to the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, districts are required to recalculate paid meal prices each year. Districts must follow the calculation guidelines provided in the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (CNRA), specifically “Guidance on Paid Lunch Equity and Revenue from Non-program (non-federal) Foods,” to determine the meal prices for students.

    Steve Croyle, the district’s general manager for Sodexo Food Services, made the calculations required to fulfill these requirements as stated in the CNRA. Based on the calculations as required by the CNRA, the administration is recommending an increase of $.45 cents for the paid student meals at elementary and $.30 cents for the paid secondary campuses beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

    Meal prices for the 2023-2024 year at the elementary level was $2.85 will be $3.15 for 2024-2025. Meal prices for the 2023-2024 year at the secondary level was $3.15 and will be $3.45 for 2024-2025.

    McCutchen explained that the district is held to the CNRA which requires the district to abide by the required adjustments each year for meals. She hopes that all students and families will fill out the free and reduce lunch applications as meals can become pricey when students have a $3.15 meal every day for an entire school year.

    The board approved the hiring of 11 new employees which included nine teachers, one speech therapist, and one additional athletic trainer.

    The group also approved 18 resignations comprised of 11 teachers, four teachers aides, one bus driver, one bus aide, and one custodian. Approval was also made regarding 26 changes of assignments.