September 10, 2024 — The September Board meeting began with Superintendent Loomis introducing West Texas A&M University President Dr. Wendler, who presented information on Amarillo ISD graduates attending college at WTAMU. Dr. Wendler emphasized the fundamental importance of a partnership between WTAMU and AISD to keep graduating students in the area and help them become engaged citizens and lead a strong economy.
The Board also heard an update from Kim May, founder and CEO of Nobox Creative, on the District’s community engagement project. Following successful focus group work, Ms. May said the next steps in the project include community polls and surveys, a fall Education and Community Forum, quarterly luncheons with major employers in the area, and the development of an official strategic plan for the future of Amarillo ISD to address the issues of declining enrollment and funding losses.
In other business, the Board approved a list of private or commercially-sponsored activities, for example, Lone Star Ballet, that can substitute for physical education requirements for middle school students. The Board also approved Dick Bivins Stadium as the location for the 2025 high school graduation ceremonies after reviewing survey responses from AISD seniors and their parents in favor of continuing to host outdoor graduations at the stadium.
The Board set the 2024 Amarillo ISD tax rate at $0.8830, which is the lowest tax rate in at least 18 years. The total estimated tax levy for Amarillo ISD, based on local property values, is $95,603,897, a local revenue increase of $3.3 million over last year. This represents the total revenue AISD expects to receive from local taxpayers for the 2024-2025 school year, assuming a 100 percent collection rate. Even though local appraisal values have gone up, most homeowners will see a drop in their Amarillo ISD taxes this year, due to the state-mandated tax rate compression.
Finally, the Board expressed appreciation for gifts and donations totaling $46,000, given to various schools from Amarillo College Community Development Program, D3 Insurance Group, Soda Jerks Amarillo, Paramount Baptist Church, Sonder Landscape, United Supermarket (Washington St. location), John Brittan, Vintage RPM, Gena Haas Foundation, Windsor PTA, Walmart Supercenter, Cristi Gooding with Yes Lord, Randy Morgan, D & D Mattress, and Amarillo National Bank.
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