Spring Branch ISD Featured News

For the 19^th year in a row, Spring Branch ISD has earned the top financial rating of Superior in the Texas Education Agency’s annual School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, or Schools FIRST, evaluation.

The Schools FIRST accountability rating system was established to aid Texas public school districts in management of financial resources. SBISD’s top rating is based on 15 financial indicators gathered from the 2018-19 school year.

The system assigns one of four financial ratings to Texas school districts with the Superior rating as highest possible. Other ratings include Above Standard, Meets Standard and Substandard.

A negative response to critical indicators can result in an automatic Substandard, or F rating. SBISD’s Schools FIRST rating has remained at the highest performance level possible since its beginning almost two decades ago.

SBISD’s rating, or grade, for this evaluation was 98 out of 100 possible points. Two points were lost for an administrative cost ratio being .06 percent above the first-tier threshold, the only area of missing points. 

David Bender, financial services dept. controller, presented the district’s annual performance report to the Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting held on Oct. 19.

A public hearing on Schools First indicators was held after his report to Trustees.

“We are pleased to have received the highest rating of “A” or “Superior” for our achievement under the Texas Schools First financial accountability rating system,” he said after the presentation. “We believe that this rating shows that our district makes the most of taxpayers’ dollars, and demonstrates the high quality of SBISD financial management and public reporting.”

“We continue to be incredibly proud of our financial services department. SBISD’s commitment to strong and highly responsible fiscal management has remained a constant every year. We are so proud of them!” SBISD’s Superintendent Jennifer Blaine stated after the Board meeting.

Several district Trustees praised the work of the financial services dept. during the recent Board meeting.

In addition to the education of its children, the SBISD community has a long held trust relationship with the school district on financial matters, said Trustee Josef Klam. He said the financial services team deeply reflects “a great team and great leadership.”

TEA created the Schools FIRST review and annual performance indicators review in 2001 in response to legislation adopted under Senate Bill 218.

Schools First financial management report: https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=46807367