Rusk ISD considers $13 million budget
Board seeks input at hearing Aug. 27
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, at the Rusk ISD school administration building to discuss the district's budget, which will determine the tax rate.

Appraised property value this year is $582,027,238, an increase of $47,358,470 from last year's values. Taxable property values increased $3,658,330 from $296,693,102 in 2006 to $333,276,432.

The school board plans to adopt a tax rate of $1.575, which is a 28.5 cent decrease from the $1.4425. Roll-back rate is $1.16327.

"This is a 35 cent reduction in taxes over the past two years," Dr. Jim Largent, superintendent told the school board Monday night.

The tax rate will finance a $13,768,647 budget. The budget will increase $518,601 from $13,250,046 last year. Most of the budget increase will be used to finance increased payroll expenses.

Payroll expenses will increase $105,000 for step raises; $81,000 for changes in compensation programs; $100,000 for longevity pay; $15,000 for coaches supplement plan; four percent for raises for administration personnel; and four percent for aides, secretaries, cafeteria workers, custodians. Substitute pay changes will increase $18,000.

Incentive pay includes $300 each at Christmas. Thirtyseven teachers have received attendance pay over the past three years. Also, teachers have received extra funding because of campus TAKS scores.

Rusk ISD teachers can receive from $300-$2,800 in this reward plan, but the district is still on the low side paywise, Lesa Jones, director of finance told the board last month.

Step raises are 2.1 percent annually. Auxiliary personnel receive three or four percent each year. The district has raised aide salaries.

With the new budgeted plan teachers will receive a $500 payment in the spring and longevity pay, bringing the pay scale up to within the top third of the Region VII districts. This will be Rusk's pay plan and isn't a state based plus plan.

The new longevity plan will give teachers with three to five years of service to Rusk ISD, $500; six to 10 years, $750; 11-15 years, $1,000; 16-20 years, $1,250; and 21 or more years, $1,500.

The state has allowed $60,000 for teacher benefits, which will go toward the total cost of $181,000.

Coaching supplement will include varsity, $5,500 plus 15 days of pay. Head coaches in one sport will receive $1,000 extra and $500 for each additional major sport; and offense and defense coordinators, $500.

Junior high coaching supple- ments will include $3,850 plus 15 days.

During the Monday evening board meeting, Stephen and Danny Berry of Berry & Clay, construction manager for the new school gymnasium, presented plans for the structure. The new structure will be constructed across from the high school parking lot and adjacent to the tennis courts.

Preliminary plans were presented at the meeting and are subject to change. The proposed 36,641 square foot building will include a bleacher seating capacity of 1,209 that includes 1,027 seats and 182 bench seats. Another 500 persons can be seated on the floor. The 36,641 total square footage include 32,287 for the gym and 1,105 square feet for the mezzanine. There will be an entry area and lockers and dressing rooms in the building.

"Locker rooms will be located below the seating area. We are still tweaking the plan and the size to meet our budget. Things may and probably will change somewhat before we go out for bids on the project. But we are very excited about the project and feel that when we get the plan finalized, it will be something our community will be very proud of as they have been with our recent intermediate school and auditorium projects," Dr. Largent said Tuesday morning.

Betty Collins presented a report of the recent TAKS testing and the school ranking. The intermediate, elementary and primary schools all received recognized status. The high school moved from unacceptable to acceptable and the junior high missed recognized rank by one point in one sub-group. "Our plans are to become a recognized district," Dr. Largent said.

Contracts were approved for Jason Barnes and Joshua Faucett, teachers/coaches; Christina Carlisle and Mary Thompson, teachers; and Julana Schwartz, speech pathologist. Billy Evans, a teacher-coach did not accept an offer of employment. With the employment of the new teachers Monday night all Rusk ISD teaching positions have been filled.

Attending the meeting were David Fulton, president; Dr. Anthony Holcomb, vice-president; Frances Long, secretary; Mike Ross, Roy Cavazoz, Rodney Hugghins and Britt Patterson.