State okays appraisals for school

Clarendon ISD and the Donley County Appraisal District were successful in having local property values assigned by the Texas Comptroller’s office, according to a report presented during the CISD Trustees meeting February 12.

“This is good news because it means we don’t have to appeal for local values,” Superintendent Monty Hysinger said this week.

The comptroller’s office reviews local appraised values and determines if the local appraisal district is accurately assigning values and uses that information to determine the level of state funding the school receives.

“If they say you’re not raising enough (because appraisals are too low), they can reduce state funds,” Hysinger said.

This is the second year in a row that CISD and the appraisal district have not had to appeal the comptroller’s assignment. The five years prior to that appeals did have to be filed because the state said the local appraisal district’s figures were too low.

“The comptroller is saying we’re doing a good job on our appraisals,” Hysinger said.

Property in the Clarendon school district is valued at more than $113.5 million. That figure does not include the value of personal property, which affects the school’s Tier II funding.

In other school business last week, trustees approved a motion to hold a school board election May 12, 2007, for the purpose of electing three board members. The terms of Jim Shelton, Reneé Betts, and Marvin Thompson are expiring. Hazel Guy will serve as election judge, and Fay Vargas and Carla Davidson will serve as absentee and deputy clerks.

Board president Wayne Hardin gave the continuing education report showing continuing education hours earned by each trustee as of February 5 as follows: Reneé Betts, six hours; Wayne Hardin, 16.75 hours; Joe Lemley, 11.5 hours; Weldon Sears, six hours; Jim Shelton, 12.75 hours; Marvin Thompson, 13 hours; and Lance Thornberry, 8.25 hours.

Board members are required to receive eight hours during non-legislative years and 10 hours during legislative years. They have until May to get all of their hours.

The State of Texas Conforming Textbook Adoption List was approved.

Following a closed session, the board unanimously approved extending by one year the contracts of CHS Principal Larry Jeffers, CJH Principal Marvin Elam, Elementary Principal Mike Word, and Athletic Director Gary Jack.