ASCISD approves raises, bus purchases
ANDERSON- House Bill 3 has affected area schools and Anderson-Shiro Consolidated ISD is the latest to reap the benefits with teacher pay raises.
In a regular meeting of the board of trustees Monday, Aug. 5, pay scale raises were unanimously passed throughout the district. Teachers, librarians and nurses receive salary scale raises ranging from $3,450 yearly for their first year of employment and up to $6,389 yearly for teachers with 21-plus years-experience. Increases in the pay scale vary from 8.76 percent to 12.99 percent.
According to ASCISD business manager Blake Vezurk the percentage increases vary to get to the salary increase mandated by HB-3. Vezurk said they were already at or above the government mandated pay on many levels of the scale, especially with new teachers.
Staff members will also see a one-time cost of living stipend pay for the 2019-2020 school year.
“This is a good thing for our district,” said ASCISD Superintendent Scott Beene.
Accountability ratings
The preliminary accountability ratings are out and ASCISD has achieved an A (91 percent) overall district rating. ASCISD Secondary school is rated B (89 percent) and the elementary received a B (84 percent) rating as well.
The final ratings will be released Aug. 15.
New buses
The ASCISD school board looked at bids from three school bus retailers but elected to go with the recommendation of operations manager Dave Hesterman.
“International busses are a good fit with our district,” said Hesterman. “We aim for consistency in our department and we already own many International busses. They are easy to work on and the support we receive from the vendor is prompt and beneficial.”
The district will purchase the two buss es from Longhorn Bus Sales in Houston. A 2019 International Model C3208 Conventional with a seating capacity of 71 for $93,161 and a 2019 International Model C2608 54 passenger bus for $94,002 were both approved for purchase. The smaller bus will be utilized to transport students with special needs.
Rush Truck Center in Houston submitted bids on a 2021 Blue Bird Model BBCV3303S for $102,595 and Model BBCV2311S for $103,635.
Thomas Built Busses submitted quotes for a 2020 Model Saf-T-Liner C2 311TS for $96,100 and a Model Saf-T-Liner C2 221TS for $95,850.
Other action
Approved insurance contract renewal with Texas Association of School Boards Inc. for the 2019-2020 school year.
Raised elementary lunch prices from $2.75 to $3 to match the $3 lunch at the secondary school and maintain a $3 average throughout the district. This is to stay in compliance with USDA.
Public meeting
A public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 28, 2019, in the Board Room of the Anderson-Shiro CISD, 458 FM 149 West in Anderson. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district’s budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited.