A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

ACTION REQUIRED

August 20, 2008

TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESSED:

Subject: Official Notification of the 2008 Final School FIRST Rating

This communication is to transmit the school district’s final 2008 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating. The June 9, 2008 TO THE ADMINISTRATOR letter notified school districts of the issuance of preliminary ratings under the financial accountability rating system, which is officially referred to as School FIRST.  As noted in the June 9 letter, the 2008 School FIRST ratings were based upon an analysis of staff and student data reported for the 2006-2007 school year, and budgetary and actual financial data for the 2007 fiscal year (the fiscal period ended June 30, 2007 or August 31, 2007, depending upon the ending date of the school district’s fiscal year).

A primary purpose of the June 9 notification letter was to provide school districts an opportunity to review the preliminary ratings and the data supporting the 24 indicators, and to submit a written appeal, as appropriate (the written appeals were due by July 9, 2008). Please note that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff responded to the appeals under a separate letter and the preliminary School FIRST ratings for certain school districts were amended in some instances. The final ratings and the data supporting the 24 indicators are accessible by the district at https://seguin.tea.state.tx.us/apps/logon.asp .
Please note, School FIRST ratings are NOT being issued on paper and are only accessible from the TEA’s Internet site.

Within two months after receipt of the final School FIRST rating, each school district will announce and hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the district’s performance under each of the 24 indicators for the current and prior year and the district’s rating.  The first of two notices in the newspaper to inform the taxpayers of the meeting may not be more than 30 days prior to or less than 14 days prior to the public meeting, in accordance with Title 19, TAC, Section 109.1005.  (The public meeting to present the School FIRST rating may be combined with a scheduled regular meeting of the board of trustees.)  The district should review the new disclosures that must be included in the financial management performance report.  Districts will be required to report on reimbursements to superintendent and board members for the 2006-2007 school year and either post on the district’s website or supply in the management report the current superintendent’s contract.  These disclosures can be found in Title 19, TAC, Section 109.1005.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter109/ch109aa.html

TEA has posted on their website a template that school districts may use to help facilitate the gathering of this information.  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/school.finance/audit/mgmt_rpt.xls

The district is encouraged to provide additional information in the report that will be beneficial to taxpayers, especially information explaining special circumstances, if any, which may have affected the district’s performance under one or more of the indicators.

Improvements in financial management in many school districts have been identified since the initiation of School FIRST in 2003, one result being the provision of opportunities for increased financial allocations in support of classroom activities.  The TEA gratefully acknowledges the generous assistance provided by the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and many school and education service center officials during the development of School FIRST.  The TEA also appreciates the continued assistance provided by TASBO, TASB, and other professional associations.  If you have questions about the district’s School FIRST rating, please contact Rita Chase at (512) 463-9095.

Sincerely,

Adrain Johnson, Ed.D.
Associate Commissioner
Department of Accreditation