(Seguin) — The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees is slated to dive right into a list of agenda items during tonight’s regular meeting.
Among the items on the list is the consideration of a resolution that would provide armed security officers at each campus during regular school hours — “establishing a good cause exemption and alternative standards for safe and secure campuses.” State legislation is requiring that campuses have armed security officers. This mandate for all Texas districts, however, is not being covered with any additional funds. The Seguin ISD tonight is slated to consider hiring law officers for its schools or consider alternative plans such as the Guardian/Marshal program which allows armed staff at its campuses.
Districts such as the Marion ISD have already adhered to the legislation having adopted the Guardian Program. The program is being supported by Governor Greg Abbott due to a rise in gun violence inside schools not only nationwide but throughout the state.
The Seguin ISD will also consider entering a memorandum of understanding with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation to support workhouse housing for all Seguin ISD employees. The discount on rent would serve as another tool in the district’s toolbox for recruitment and retention. As previously reported by the Seguin Daily News, the program would be available to all district employees either at a current housing complex or it could potentially stir development for a whole new complex.
If approved, the Seguin ISD would not be financially responsible for its participation in the program.
Prior to its regular board meeting, the public will get the chance to chime in on the proposed tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. A review of that tax rate will be held during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Seguin ISD Board Members are proposing a $0.7316 tax rate for maintenance and operations (M&O) and a $0.385 tax rate for the Interest and Sinking side of the budget. That provides for a total combined rate of $1.1166 per $100 of property valuation. District officials say the total rate “does not exceed the no-new revenue tax rate” and is “$0.133 lower than the prior year.”
Again the public hearing on the tax rate gets underway at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Seguin ISD Board Room located inside the district’s administrative offices in Oak Park Mall.