The rating designation follows on the heels of FBISD receiving an exemplary audit from its external financial auditor, Whitley Penn.
Both the TEA rating and the external audit report are “indicative of the district’s commitment to strong financial management and transparency,” according to a district news release.
The TEA rating system, also known as Texas Schools FIRST, revealed a positive financial responsibility report to the board as well as members of the public at the district’s regular board meeting Nov. 13, as it has from the past two decades, per district officials.
In their own words
The TEA’s highest ratings are reserved for school districts that “exemplify high quality financial management,” the agency stated in a news release. The agency rewards practices such as maintaining a 90-day fund balance in reserve to continue paying personnel and vendors for 90 days in the event of a fiscal crisis.
“We take our financial responsibility and the public trust very seriously, so it is always gratifying when we are recognized for putting our students first and running a tight ship,” FBISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck said in a statement from the release. “I want to thank our financial team for the excellent work they perform daily under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn.”
Diving in deeper
The TEA ratings for 2022-23 were based on annual financial reports from school districts which were then reviewed and assigned grades of A, B, C or F.
The final FIRST ratings for the 2022-2023 school year are as follows:
- 88% received an A
- 7% received a B
- 5% received a C
- 1% received an F
