August 28, 2007

The Granbury ISD Board of Trustees adopted a substantially lower property tax rate.  The decrease will mean a rate of $1.17115 per $100 in valuation, which represents a cut of almost 27 cents from the current rate of $1.44.  As a result, the tax rate for Granbury ISD will remain one of the lowest in the area.  After taking into consideration higher property appraisals, the owner of a home valued at $129,800 will see a decrease of $208.17 in school property taxes. 

The move followed a public hearing held in conjunction with the regular monthly board meeting on August 27, 2007.  Trustees also approved a $57.4 million budget that allows for employee salary increases and funding of several new personnel and initiatives.

Trustees approved two changes to local district policy:

Board members also heard several reports:

• Superintendent William Harris and Executive Director of Finance Sharay Boynton outlined changes with the property appraisals.  State law now requires that, although the Hood County Appraisal District will collect tax revenue, appraisals must be conducted by the appraisal district in which the property exists.  Granbury ISD extends into Johnson, Parker, and Somervell Counties.  Changes will allow GISD to have more input into the budget process and voting for HCAD board members.
• Harris provided an update on Juvenile Detention Center to be opened by 4M Youth Services Inc.  The City of Granbury recently approved a Special Use Permit to allow the center to operate.  The role of Granbury ISD is still unclear, as 4M has filed an application with the Texas Education Agency for an additional campus of the John H. Wood Jr. Public Charter District.  However, if Granbury ISD must provide instruction to youths housed at the facility, this could lead to substantial staffing and other costs.
• The superintendent reported that the first day of school went very smoothly.
• Assistant Superintendent Jan Van Dorn delivered a report on the 2007 Summer School.
• Boynton reviewed financial statements for June and July 2007.
• An overview of facilities was provided by Facilities Director Randy Leach.  Over the summer, science laboratories were finished at elementary and intermediate campuses.  The old stands at Tidwell Field baseball complex have been demolished in order to begin construction on the new stands, and preparatory work has begun at the site of the new agriculture science complex.  Lighting at the high school tennis courts are still under design with work to be completed between the fall and spring seasons.  Work on the parking lots at Granbury High School and Oak Woods Intermediate School has been completed.  New marquees were also installed at several campuses.

Leach also explained new campus security measures.  Visitors must provide drivers licenses or other government identification cards so that campus office personnel may scan the cards using software that checks against sex offender databases.  In addition, another system will be installed on campuses to control front door access.  Implementation of this system will be staggered for each campus.

• Public Information Officer Jeff Meador updated trustees about the new district website, www.granburyisd.org.

In other business, trustees approved a renewal of the School Resource Officer contract with the Hood County Sheriff’s Office.  The board authorized President Jerry Campbell and the Superintendent to negotiate an amendment to an existing oil and gas lease with Quicksilver Resources, Inc.  Board members also approved minutes of regular and special meetings held in July and August, budget amendments, transportation supplies, renewal of pest management services, Accelerated Reader materials and services, athletic supplies, certified appraisers for the 2007-08 school year, a price increase for adult breakfast, and technology purchases.  The board approved appointments to fill a handful of open positions on campuses.

At the beginning of the public meeting, board members recognized efforts of workers from the City of Granbury and GISD employees who restored electricity to the Administration Annex on August 17, 2007.  Electric power went down, causing network and telephone services to be unavailable.   The crews worked all day in order to reinstate power to the building.