East Montgomery - News
Board approves conservation plan
By ROYCELYN BASTIAN
With students back in school, lowering of thermostats and constant use of computers and other activities will increase energy consumption and bills for school districts.
To stay ahead and save money for the 2008-09 school year, the New Caney Independent School District board of trustees approved an energy conservation plan that they hope will reduce energy consumption.
“With this energy conservation plan, we hope to save more than the 5 percent that we are required to do,” said Chuck McClary, director of facilities and operations for New Caney ISD. “We are going to look at an appropriate way to reward each school in their efforts help reduce the consumption.”
The efforts to conserve energy are required by State Bill 12 and House Bill 3693, and the district, along with others around the state, has to meet the required mandate of the annual reduction of use by 5 percent for the next six years. In order to meet the requirement and implement its energy conservation plan, the school district has agreed to organize an energy management team; audit all utility consumption usage; develop energy conservation ideas; introduce faculty, staff and students to energy concepts and publicize results each quarter; and reward students and staff for their efforts.
“We are asking all campuses to make sure the lights, computers and other items are turned off before they leave for the day,” McClary said.
Starting the 2008-09 school year, New Caney ISD has something to be proud of: They are the only recognized school district in Montgomery County.
While its Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores improved across the board, some campuses were only points away from making the school district exemplary. That is the goal for this school year.
“We made great improvements and strides last year with great numbers in on our writing and ELA tests,” said Becky Atkinson, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “This year, we will continue to work with our students on math and science and we know they can do it because they did well on the other tests.”
For its accomplishments, the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County signed a resolution praising New Caney ISD for being the only recognized district in the county.
The resolution stated, “The Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County salutes New Caney ISD, its administrators, principals, teachers and support staff on once again being named a ‘recognized’ district by the Texas Education Agency and encourage all citizens within the boundaries of the district to continue to support the educational initiatives and programs provided by the district, its administrators, principals, teachers and support staff.”
In addition to 2008, New Caney ISD achieved recognized status in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
The board of trustees held a public hearing to discuss its 2008-09 budget with the community. The district ended its 2007-08 fiscal year with a $ 6 million deficit, but according to Clisty Vaden, chief financial officer, that is not a problem.
“New Caney ISD will not operate in a deficit this school year because we have enough money in our fund balance to cover the deficit,” she said.
In order to increase their revenues, the school board passed and adopted a tax rate increase for its debt service fund. The tax rate went from $0.3750 to $0.4000 bringing the total 2008 tax rate to $1.44 per $100 valuation. The increase will pay the principal and interest requirements without the state contribution on all outstanding balances of $6,998,699 for issues of schoolhouse bonds dated from May 2000 through August 2008.
For more information
Contact the New Caney ISD Administration Building at 281-577-8600.
To stay ahead and save money for the 2008-09 school year, the New Caney Independent School District board of trustees approved an energy conservation plan that they hope will reduce energy consumption.
“With this energy conservation plan, we hope to save more than the 5 percent that we are required to do,” said Chuck McClary, director of facilities and operations for New Caney ISD. “We are going to look at an appropriate way to reward each school in their efforts help reduce the consumption.”
The efforts to conserve energy are required by State Bill 12 and House Bill 3693, and the district, along with others around the state, has to meet the required mandate of the annual reduction of use by 5 percent for the next six years. In order to meet the requirement and implement its energy conservation plan, the school district has agreed to organize an energy management team; audit all utility consumption usage; develop energy conservation ideas; introduce faculty, staff and students to energy concepts and publicize results each quarter; and reward students and staff for their efforts.
“We are asking all campuses to make sure the lights, computers and other items are turned off before they leave for the day,” McClary said.
Starting the 2008-09 school year, New Caney ISD has something to be proud of: They are the only recognized school district in Montgomery County.
While its Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores improved across the board, some campuses were only points away from making the school district exemplary. That is the goal for this school year.
“We made great improvements and strides last year with great numbers in on our writing and ELA tests,” said Becky Atkinson, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “This year, we will continue to work with our students on math and science and we know they can do it because they did well on the other tests.”
For its accomplishments, the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County signed a resolution praising New Caney ISD for being the only recognized district in the county.
The resolution stated, “The Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County salutes New Caney ISD, its administrators, principals, teachers and support staff on once again being named a ‘recognized’ district by the Texas Education Agency and encourage all citizens within the boundaries of the district to continue to support the educational initiatives and programs provided by the district, its administrators, principals, teachers and support staff.”
In addition to 2008, New Caney ISD achieved recognized status in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
The board of trustees held a public hearing to discuss its 2008-09 budget with the community. The district ended its 2007-08 fiscal year with a $ 6 million deficit, but according to Clisty Vaden, chief financial officer, that is not a problem.
“New Caney ISD will not operate in a deficit this school year because we have enough money in our fund balance to cover the deficit,” she said.
In order to increase their revenues, the school board passed and adopted a tax rate increase for its debt service fund. The tax rate went from $0.3750 to $0.4000 bringing the total 2008 tax rate to $1.44 per $100 valuation. The increase will pay the principal and interest requirements without the state contribution on all outstanding balances of $6,998,699 for issues of schoolhouse bonds dated from May 2000 through August 2008.
For more information
Contact the New Caney ISD Administration Building at 281-577-8600.
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