J. Landon Short Mini-Grants awarded to 48 teachers

Thirty-two separate projects representing 48 teachers were awarded stipends of up to $500 for individual teachers and up to $750 for teaching teams during the 15th annual J. Landon Short Mini-Grants for Educators presentation held on Sept. 22 during the SBISD Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting.

The Mini-Grants competition is named for a lifelong education advocate and backer, J. Landon Short. Mr. Short, who is deceased, was a founding member of the SBISD Partners in Education Advisory Board.

About $16,750 was awarded this year to teachers through generous gifts from the Spring Branch Education Foundation, Nexen and First Community Credit Union, as well as through a permanent endowment of The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation.

Mini-Grant sponsor representatives who attended the Board meeting and were honored included Alex Hinn, a petroleum engineer with Nexen; Melinda Storrs, who is vice president of business development at First Community Credit Union; and Cece Thompson, executive director with the Spring Branch Education Foundation.

This annual grants competition is coordinated through the Community Relations Department.

A pre-meeting reception was held for all teachers who won grants this year.

Click here to see a complete listing of winners and their winning proposals.

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Spring Branch Education Foundation sets a record fundraising goal

Leaders with the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) presented a check representing gifts and scholarship awards totaling $924,154 for the past fiscal year to district leaders and Trustees during the Sept. 22 regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

This year’s total marked a new fundraising record for the Foundation, which has raised more than $8 million since the nonprofit, education-related group was founded 21 years ago. The symbolic check for more than $924,100 was presented to Trustees by SBEF Chairman Lisa Schwartz and by Executive Director Cece Thompson.

This total fund-raising amount sets a record high record for SBEF. Since its establishment, the Foundation has provided more than $8 million in financial support to teachers and students in Spring Branch.

To support programs, the Foundation hosts both annual and special fund-raising events. These include this fall’s planned 2014 Legacies Gala on Oct. 25 and 2014 Style Show on Nov. 21.

Springtime events will include the Clay Tournament in February, a Golf Tournament in March, and May’s annual Running for the Arts 5K Run and 1K Run/Walk, which supports the arts and physical education programs in SBISD. In addition, SBEF is continuing to seek donations for its Fund for the Future Endowment.

Please visit the Foundation’s web site to learn how you can help make the future better in Spring Branch ISD: http://cms.springbranchisd.com/sbef/Home/tabid/15860/Default.aspx

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SBISD Finance Department Earns State and National Awards

For the fifth year in a row, the SBISD Finance Department has earned a Gold Leadership Circle Award from the state Comptroller’s Office for implementing financial transparency. For the year ahead, the department’s award insignia will be posted on the district’s website, and on the Board of Trustees’ and Finance Dept. web pages, too.

Also for a fifth year in a row, SBISD’s Finance Department has earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This award is presented by the Government Finance Officers Association, or GFOA, the leading professional group in North America.

The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the only national awards program in the field of governmental accounting. It represents a significant achievement and a commitment to the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

SBISD’s Finance Department earned high marks, or proficient ratings, based on how well its budget document also serves as a policy document, district financial plan, a policy guide, and communications device.

In addition, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has also been awarded once again to the Finance Department by the GFOA. This recognition is issued for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

This award is the highest honor for governmental accounting and financial reporting issued by this group. Elsewhere, the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) has awarded for a third year its Award of Merit for Purchasing and Operations to SBISD’s Purchasing Department.

The TASBO award honors public school districts that are committed to following best practices and professional standards in acquisition of goods and services. Districts that have earned this award are considered to be among the top innovators in their field.

SBISD’s Financial Department is led by Associate Superintendent Karen Wilson, Controller David Bender and Director of Accounting Tera Harris. The Purchasing Department is led by Director of Purchasing and Contracts Barbara Robillard.

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Tax Rate Remains Unchanged for Sixth Straight Year

Following a public hearing Sept. 22 on the proposed 2014 tax rate, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt a tax rate that maintains a combined or total tax rate of $1.3945 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The vote by Trustees also maintains $1.09 as the General Fund Tax Rate for maintenance and operations, and $0.3045 as the Debt Service Rate set for approved bond issues, for the sixth year in a row.

The combined or total tax rate of $1.3945 is now 6 years old; the $1.09 General Fund Tax Rate has been maintained for eight years. For the owner of a $200,000 home in Spring Branch qualifying for the full 20 percent homestead exemption, estimated school taxes paid on a $200,000 home will be about $2,022, or about the same as last year.

By comparison, among Houston area school districts, school taxes paid on the same home now average $2,413, or about $100 more than last year. Spring Branch is one of the few school districts in Harris County and the region that continues to give its homeowners the full 20 percent homestead exemption.

 Property values in Spring Branch increased by 12.6 percent this year, but district revenues did not increase significantly due to the state’s current school financing plan.

By current law, the State of Texas funds less if property values increase so that SBISD’s revenues don’t increase correspondingly. The Texas Legislature, which meets again beginning in January 2015, is responsible for the school funding plan which drains funds away from our local district.

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