JISD Receives
Superior F.I.R.S.T. Rating

Jacksonville ISD received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under the Texas’ Schools FIRST financial accountability rating system for the fiscal year 2005-06 according to Lindy Finley, Director of Business and Finance for the district. This achievement demonstrates the quality of the financial management and reporting system of the district with Superior being the highest rating the state awards.

The Schools FIRST accountability rating system assigns one of four financial ratings to Texas school districts. The rating system consists of twenty-one indicators. To receive the “Superior Achievement” rating the district must have positive responses to at least 19 of the 21 indicators. Jacksonville ISD scored positive responses in all 21 indicators.

Mrs. Finley credited the staff in the business office with an exceptional work ethic as the contributing factor in the district receiving the “Superior Achievement” rating. The staff, introduced at the Public Hearing on September 24, 2007, included Debra Reid, Tammy Murray, Troy Parker, Sheryl McLeroy, Judy Barber and Dianna Dumas.

The Schools Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts that was developed in 1999 by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Texas Legislature. The primary goal of the Schools FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school district’s financial resources. A challenging goal due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.