Policies updated to reflect nine-week grading period
Northwest ISD will switch to a nine-week grading period beginning with the 2019-20 school year, which has resulted in trustees approving changes to district policies to reflect the switch.
Specifically, trustees approved a policy to say report cards will be issued following each grading period (instead of the previous language stating six weeks). Trustees also approved a second policy, stating the district will determine class rank and honor graduates at the end of the third quarter (instead of the end of the old fifth six-week grading period).
The district continues to review the remainder of its policies to see if any additional changes are necessary to reflect the new grading period length.
Guaranteed maximum price set for first phase of Eaton expansion
Trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price of about $1.4 million for the first phase of the Eaton High School expansion, which will allow the site work to begin for the new three-story classroom wing to the school.
This first phase only includes utilities and is not for the construction of the structure portion of the classroom wing itself. Examples of utility work set to begin following this approval include geothermal wells, storm and water utility work, and land grading. This work will take place while students are not occupying the school. Buford Thompson Corporation will conduct the work, as it was previously awarded the project.
Voters approved Eaton expansion as part of the 2017 bond package. For information about it and other building projects, visit
www.nisdtxconstruction.org.
Roadway easement approved near Haslet replacement campus
A temporary roadway easement near the replacement Haslet Elementary School campus will provide workers with easier site access following trustee approval of the plan.
Construction of the temporary road is expected to begin in July, as developers are currently working on infrastructure in the subdivision. The replacement Haslet Elementary School campus is located in the Le Tara master-planned development.
2019-20 budget approved
Trustees approved the district’s 2019-20 general operating budget of about $242 million, with a vote regarding the proposed tax rate set to take place at the board’s Aug. 26 meeting. The approval also confirms the district’s debt obligations, which are used to fund new schools and similar capital projects through voter-approved bond packages.
The proposed total tax rate for 2019-20 is $1.42 per $100 of property value. This represents a decrease over the prior tax rate, as the recent Texas legislative session compressed maintenance and operation (or “M&O”) tax rates for school districts across the state, decreasing Northwest ISD’s M&O from $1.04 to 97 cents per $100 of property value.
Adopting the district budget before the start of an upcoming school year is an annual requirement. By law, tax rate adoption occurs following the adoption of the budget.
In other action, the board
- Recognized prior trustee Josh Wright for his years of service to the district on the school board.
- Recognized Scott Blattner for his service to the Northwest ISD Education Foundation board.
- Recognized recent GEM Award winner Cheryl Kacvinsky for her exemplary customer service.
- Recognized Thompson Elementary School and Medlin Middle School’s Destination Imagination teams for competing in the problem-solving competition’s Global Finals.
- Accepted gifts to the district in excess of $100,000. These gifts were from a variety of sources, such as booster clubs supporting athletic and fine arts teams.
- Heard reports regarding the 2018-19 School Health Advisory Council, facilities and construction, and May finances and investments.
