At the Sept. 10 meeting, the Pearland ISD board approved a tax rate of $1.3956 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2019-20. This rate is broken down into two categories: $0.97 for maintenance and operations, M&O, and $0.4256 for debt service and interest & sinking, I&S. The increase to the tax rate was less than anticipated after the 2016 bond, district officials said. “By going up 5 cents this year, we’ll be able to keep it at five cents for the remaining term of those bonds,” said Jorgannie Garza Carter, Pearland ISD’s chief financial officer. The board also approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price, or GMP, of the Rig at $7,615,233. This includes the expanded press box, facade treatment, sound system projects, which were all also approved at the meeting. Other agenda items included a presentation on the 2019 State Accountability results and a review of the board rules of conduct regarding social media. In its accountability results, PISD received an overall B rating. In the subcategories, PISD received an A in both Student Achievement and School Progress, and a B in Closing the Gaps.