Lamar CISD’s board of trustees met Tuesday, Jan. 23, for a board meeting after having to reschedule due to the winter storm. Trustees approved several agenda items at the meeting, including accepting an audit for the 2016-17 school year. Here are a few takeaways from the meeting:

LCISD Accountability Performance Report for 2016-17

Brian Moore, LCISD's research, assessment and accountability director, presented trustees with an overview of the district’s Texas Academic Performance Report for the 2016-17 school year, which included student demographic information, student performance rates and budget reports. Moore told trustees the district received a Met Standard rating for 2017 and received 76 distinction designations. Trustees gave meeting attendees an opportunity to speak on the report during a public comment period but received no comments. Parents can access the full LCISD TAPR report through the Texas Education Agency website.

Annual financial report approved
After a presentation from Whitley Penn’s Christopher Breaux on the overall findings of the district’s annual audit, trustees moved to approve the financial report for the 2016-17 school year. The district recieved a  Met Standard rating and received an unmodified, or “clean,” opinion, according to Breaux. The district saw a total revenue increase of about $10 million. While property taxes increased by $20 million, the district saw a decrease in state aid by about $12 million and experienced about a $10 million increase in total expenses, according to Breaux.

Board calendar for 2018 approved

Trustees approved the 2018 board calendar, which includes dates for administration and employee contracts, budget workshops, public hearings on the tax rate and campus improvement plan meetings.