The George West Board of Trustees met on July 16 for its regular monthly meeting, with a major focus on the budget for the upcoming school year.
Business Manager Ty Sparks presented the 2025-2026 preliminary budget. Although final figures have not yet been received from the appraisal district, Sparks anticipates a reduction in funding from the state. At the federal level, the district has been notified that two grants that are used to fund tutorials, stipends, and school resource officers have been placed on hold.
Due to discrepancies between state and local property value appraisals, state funding will likely be reduced, causing the district’s fund balance to drop from a high of nearly $7 million two years ago to an expected $4 million. Despite the decline, the balance remains above the generally accepted minimum of three months’ operating expenses.
Through House Bill 2, teachers with three or more years of experience received a significant pay increase, with the district receiving about $600,000 for those raises. However, non-teaching staff did not receive any additional state-funded compensation. With salary increases for those employees still needed and several capital improvements required, the board faced difficult decisions. After extensive discussion, the board entered executive session but took no action.
A bright spot in the financial report was a decrease in property and casualty insurance costs. By switching from their current vendor to McGriff for property insurance and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for casualty insurance, the district will save approximately $75,000. The new property insurance package also offers improved coverage.
Other items approved by the board included:
• The annual request for extracurricular status for the 4-H organization in Live Oak and Bee counties. This allows extension service staff to be designated as adjunct faculty, and students participating in 4-H events will be counted present for attendance purposes.
• Purchase of a 2025 Ford F-350 long-bed diesel 4×4 crew cab truck from Caraway Ford in Nixon, the only proposal received. With the addition of a bedliner, the total cost is $70,000.
• A change in copier vendors from Xerox to Knight Services. District leaders expressed dissatisfaction with Xerox’s service. Knight Services will buy out the remaining year on the current contract and provide new copiers under a new lease agreement at $46,000 per year.
Also during the meeting, Tracy Dennis from the Education Service Center gave a presentation on the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum. Designed for grades K-5, the state-approved curriculum is fully aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and offers high-quality instruction in math and reading/language arts.
The next board meeting, including a public hearing on the proposed 2025–2026 budget and tax rate, is scheduled for August 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.