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Puig
The trustees approved last week a proposed general fund tax of $1.17 and $0.0354 per $100 property valuation to repay debts. Last year, the trustees approved $1.04 to the general fund and $.1654 for debt repayment.
Because of how the state matches money, the school district will actually receive more state money by moving the tax amounts around while not raising taxes for residents.
On Monday, Marc Puig, recently hired superintendent, said that the district held a public meeting on Monday evening to share information about the tax swap and also about the changes coming to the district.
Unfortunately, no one showed, which occurs frequently when the district holds town-hall style meetings.
“We didn’t have anyone in attendance,” he said Tuesday morning.
This will not discourage Puig or the others on the board or in the district.
“My trustees tell me sometimes that happens,” Puig said. “We have another meeting set for Thursday and one on Saturday and one next Saturday.”
Board President Kevin Behr said that he wasn’t going to let turnout discourage him either.
“It was perhaps a little discouraging for us,” he said. :But There are two ways to look at this — half empty or half full.”
He chose, based on prior public comements, to believe this indicates people had no coplaints.
“We are excited with the direction we are taking,” Behr said.
“The input we are getting from the community has been tremendously positive and that we are headed in this direction.”
Puig hopes more of the community will attend as the district is making improvements for the students and the faculty.
“We will certainly find other avenues to share this information, whether it is through social media, print media or radio,” he said. “The board is so committed and so energized to make a difference in the school system. It is amazing.
“That energizes everyone else in the school district.”
One such new offering is the raises recently awarded to teachers and staff in the district.
The board just last month approved giving schoolteachers, registered nurses and librarians a $5,000 raise, while the rest of the support staff will receive a 4 percent increase.
Plus, the district will now offer a 100 percent contribution for one of the available employee healthcare plans.
Funding for these salary and benefit increases will come primarily from the general fund.
The tax swap, which will require voter approval before it can be done, also will help fund it. However, Puig said, approval of it is not required for teachers and staff to receive their raises.
“The $5,000 raise is considerable. It is probably one of the highest in the state,” Puig said when he announced the raise.
These raises should help reduce the disparity in what teachers here make in comparison to other nearby districts.
For example, a Beeville teacher at five years makes $39,917, while in Skidmore they make $42,930 and in Sinton they make $42,128.
Puig’s 23-area district survey showed that only eight of these districts paid less than here for a five-year teacher.
The average teacher salary in Beeville was $44,169, while in Skidmore-Tynan it was $46,598.
The scheduled community meetings for August are listed below.
• Aug. 11 — Moreno Junior High Library, 301 N. Minnesota; 6 p.m.
• Aug. 13 — Administration Office, 201 N. St. Marys; 9 a.m.
• Aug. 20 — Administration Office, 201 N. St. Marys; 9 a.m.
For more information, call 361-358-7111.
