WACO, Texas — Editor's Note: The attached video aired on Oct. 7.
For the 20th consecutive year, Waco ISD has received the highest rating from the Texas Education Agency in their Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) ratings.
FIRST ratings cover over 1,200 school districts and charter schools and measure how they manage their finances. It was created by the Texas Legislature in 2001 as a tool to measure how districts are managing their financial resources, and the ratings are based on 15 different aspects, including funds for operating their facilities and classrooms, student-teacher ratios, tax collection rates, and long-term debt.
"Sound financial management is critical to achieving our long-term goals," said Waco ISD Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Davis in a press release. "This rating is an acknowledgement of the District's commitment to transparency and accountability in its financial operations."
The FIRST ratings provide the covered school districts and charter schools with one of four ratings: Substandard, Standard, Above Standard, and Superior.
"This continuous achievement reflects the exceptional work of the Waco ISD Business and Financial Services Department, board of trustees, and employees in making sure local taxpayer dollars, state funds, and federal dollars are not only judiciously spent, but very well managed," said Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Spicer in a press release. "This prestigious honor becomes more challenging each year as operational funds continue to shrink. I want to once again recognize the outstanding efforts of Waco ISD Chief Financial officer Sheryl Davis and her staff, the oversight of the school board, and our employees who continuously demonstrate a willingness to stretch every dollar as far as possible to make sure that our students have the best opportunities to succeed."
Click here for a full list of schools and their ratings.
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