Avery ISD Rated "Superior Achievement" for 2006-2007
District Earns State's Highest Fiscal Accountability Rating
by Natasha Blackburn, Director of Business Operations
October 27, 2008
This is the seventh year of Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999. The primary goal of Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school financial system.
Avery Independent School District officials are pleased to report that the district again received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of Avery ISD’s financial management and reporting system. Avery ISD has earned a rating of “Superior Achievement” every year since the rating’s inception (fiscal year 2001-2002).
This rating demonstrates that our district is making the most of our taxpayers’ dollars. The “Superior Achievement” rating also shows that Avery’s schools are accountable not only for student learning, but also for accomplishing the district’s goals and objectives in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible.
The Schools FIRST accountability rating system assigns one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “Superior Achievement,” followed by “Above-Standard Achievement,” “Standard Achievement” and Substandard Achievement.” Districts with serious data quality problems may receive the additional rating of “Suspended-Data Quality.” Districts that receive the “Substandard Achievement” or “Suspended-Data Quality” ratings under Schools FIRST must file a corrective action plan with the Texas Education Agency.
In accordance with statutory requirements relative to Schools FIRST reporting, the Superintendent’s current contract is on our district web site, accessible on the “Administration” web page [follow the link on the left side of your screen, then click on the button on the right side of the administration page].
