DISTRICT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
This chapter examines the organization and management of the Christoval Independent School District (CISD) in five subsections:
In Texas, a school district's organization begins with an elected Board of Trustees. Residents of the district elect school board members either at large, districtwide or from single-member districts that cover only a portion of the school district. The school board sets policies, selects key management, establishes property tax rates and approves staffing levels, pay rates and the annual budget. It also determines facility needs and calls bond elections as necessary to support those needs.
A superintendent hired by the board serves as chief executive officer for a contractual period of time subject to renewal, non-renewal or dismissal. District superintendents are responsible for determining the number of staff needed to accomplish district missions and objectives, preparing and recommending an annual budget and supervising day-to-day operations.
BACKGROUND
CISD is located in Tom Green County approximately 19 miles south of the county seat of San Angelo, Texas. Agriculture and ranching comprise a large percentage of the economy within the county.
The district has seen a shift in its demographics over the past five years. Historically, the population base was 100 percent rural. However, with the growth now being seen in the neighboring communities of Dove Creek and Knickerbocker, the population base is more equally split between rural and suburban. Enrollment is expected to increase as both of these communities send their students to Christoval.
CISD has two campuses, an elementary school that includes students from kindergarten through grade 6, and a high school that includes students from grades 7 through 12. In the 2000-01 school year, 379 students were enrolled in the district. The construction of a middle school is nearing completion. In Fall 2001, students in kindergarten through grade 5 will attend the elementary school. Grades 6 through 8 will attend the newly constructed middle school, and the high school will include grades 9 through 12.
Approximately 24.8 percent of the students in the district are classified as economically disadvantaged, well under the state average of nearly 49 percent.
For this review, CISD selected peer districts for comparison based upon similarities in size, location, enrollment and property value. The districts chosen were Apple Springs, Brookeland, Leggett, Meadow and Slidell. The enrollment and accreditation status of each district are presented in Exhibit 1-1.
Exhibit 1-1 Source: Texas Education Agency (TEA), Academic Excellence
CISD and Peer District Enrollments and Accreditation Status
1999-2000
District Enrollment Accreditation Status Christoval 378 Recognized Slidell 366 Academically Acceptable Brookeland 347 Academically Acceptable Meadow 334 Academically Acceptable Apple Springs 265 Recognized Leggett 255 Academically Acceptable
Indicator System (AEIS) 1999-2000.Of its peer groups, CISD had the highest student enrollment. In 1999-2000, the latest date for which data is available, the district was Recognized, with the elementary campus being rated as Exemplary and the high school campus Recognized. Exhibit 1-2 shows the accountability rating standards for 2000 used to determine a district's rating.
Exhibit 1-2 Source: TEA, 2000 Accountability Manual.
Texas Education Agency
Accountability Rating Standards
1999-2000
Exemplary Recognized Academically Acceptable/ Acceptable Academically Unacceptable/ Low Performing Spring TAAS Scores at least 90% passing each subject area at least 80% passing each subject area at least 50% passing each subject area less than 50% passing any subject area Prior Year Dropout Rate 1% or less 3.5% or less 6% or less above 6% Prior Year Attendance at least 94% at least 94% at least 94% less than 94% CISD has budgeted revenues of $3 million for 2000-01. Compared to its peer group, Christoval had the highest budgeted revenue in total dollars. In terms of revenue per student, Christoval was the third lowest of its peer group, but was well above the state average (Exhibit 1-3).
Exhibit 1-3 Source: TEA, Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) 2000-01.
CISD Budgeted Revenues Compared to Peer Districts
2000-01
District Total Revenue
(millions)Revenue
per StudentBrookeland $2.9 $8,969 Leggett $2.2 $8,869 Slidell $2.9 $8,830 Christoval $3.0 $7,990 Apple Springs $2.1 $7,660 Meadow $2.3 $7,093 State $26.1 $6,415 CISD's total operating expenditures for 2000-01 were $2.9 million. In terms of operating expenditures per student, CISD was the fourth highest of its peers. (Exhibit 1-4).
Exhibit 1-4 Source: TEA, PEIMS 2000-01.
CISD Budgeted Operating Expenditures
Compared to Peer Districts
2000-01
District Total Operating Expenditures
(millions)Total Operating Expenditures
Per StudentLeggett $2.1 $8,480 Brookeland $2.6 $8,211 Christoval $2.9 $7,716 Slidell $2.6 $7,711 Apple Springs $2.0 $7,558 Meadow $2.1 $6,545 CISD receives 68 percent of its revenue from the state. With the exception of Brookeland and Slidell ISDs, its peer districts also receive a greater than average percentage of revenue from state sources. Brookeland and Slidell derive the majority of their revenue from local sources. Christoval falls well below its peers in the percent of total revenue received from federal funding (Exhibit 1-5).
Exhibit 1-5 Source: TEA, PEIMS 2000-01.
CISD, State and Peer District Revenue Sources
as a Percentage of Total Revenues
2000-01
District Local/Other
RevenueState
RevenueFederal
RevenueApple Springs 21.8% 74.6% 3.6% Brookeland 61.5% 32.8% 5.8% Christoval 30.8% 68.0% 1.2% Leggett 46.2% 49.5% 4.3% Meadow 27.8% 68.3% 3.9% Slidell 55.5% 43.0% 1.5%
Exhibit 1-6 Source: TEA, PEIMS 2000-01.
CISD and Peer District Expenditures for Instruction as a Percentage
of Total Expenditures
2000-01
District Total
ExpendituresExpenditures
for InstructionInstruction
as Percentage of
Total ExpendituresApple Springs $2,056,795 $1,243,299 60.4% Brookeland $2,659,999 $1,679,317 63.1% Christoval $2,985,758 $1,570,009 52.6% Leggett $2,378,870 $1,157,123 48.6% Meadow $2,291,075 $1,158,607 50.6% Slidell $2,931,284 $1,531,143 52.2% State $27,056,013,935 $14,583,469,009 53.9% CISD spends 52.6 percent of its expenditures on instruction, averaging the third highest percentage of its peer districts. Exhibit 1-6 compares the district's percentage of total expenditures that are dedicated to instruction with that of its peer districts.