Longview ISD board members unanimously approved salary increases for district staff and adopted the 2017-18 tax rate during Monday night's regular meeting.
Recommended to the board by LISD Human Resources director Loretta Thompson Martin, the measure includes normal step increases for teachers, a 3 percent from the midpoint raise for other staff, and a $4-per-hour increase for bus drivers. Also approved is a new starting pay for bus drivers, increasing the rate from $13 an hour to $17.50 an hour, the highest starting pay for school bus drivers in East Texas.
The adopted tax rate is the same as the current rate: $1.04 for the maintenance and operations budget, 47.3 cents for the debt budget and $1.513 total. School districts are required to provide legal notice of its proposed tax rate ahead of voting on it officially. Trustees will will formally adopt its 2017-18 budget and tax rate at a special meeting 11:30 a.m. Aug. 30.
TxDOT to add Montessori access
Later, the board approved donating 0.119 acres of land and deceleration lane construction for the Texas Department of Transportation to provide access from Highway 80 into the East Texas Montessori Prep Academy.
Lynn Marshall, assistant superintendent for business, finance and facilities, said no funds will be utilized in the transaction, 'since the district is paying construction costs for the deceleration lane.'
'Once completed, TxDOT will actually own the decel lane, which means they will be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep,' he said.
See-Saw to run Pre-K program
In other action, the board approved agreement with See-Saw Children's Place for afterschool care at the new East Texas Montessori Prep Academy.
See-Saw will also have the option to provide all-day school care on holidays, teacher inservice days, and summer break.