The Devine School board convened for their regular monthly meeting this past Monday, September 22, and the following actions were taken. The board approved the annual financial audit report and reviewed budget highlights, as well as approving changes to elections this year. Voting locations will be different for everyone this year. Medina County residents in Devine ISD are to vote at the Community Center this year, and the district’s Frio County voters will have to vote in Frio County.
Here are some of the report highlights and actions taken at the meeting:
3A. Consider and take possible action to Approve the Annual Financial Audit Report.
Financial Highlights
* The District’s combined net position was $11,880,020 at June 30, 2020, an increase of $144,361 from the prior year.
* During the year, the District’s revenue was $24,061,656
*During the year, the District’s expenses were $23,917,295.
The general fund reported a fund balance this year of $9,599,216, a decrease of $209,600.
* The debt service reported a fund balance of $642,990, an increase of $53,334.
* The District’s combined net position was $11,880,020 at June 30, 2020
Property tax rates were reduced $0.1067 cents for the past year. The assessed value increased during the past year by $30,606,851. The decrease in the tax levy was $106,269.
* * State revenue increased for the year by $2,003,622. Federal revenue decreased by $210,037.
General Fund Budgetary Highlights
Over the course of the year, the District revised its budget several times. Even with these adjustments, actual expenditures were $672,793 below final budget amounts. The most significant positive variance resulted from staffing and budget efficiencies. Resources available were $390,323 above final budgeted amounts.
* Local revenue was more than originally budgeted. State funding was greater than expected. All functional expenditures were less than anticipated except facility maintenance and debt service, which was over budget by $662,564.
Capital Assets and Debt Administration Capital Assets
Capital assets for the District at the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2020 amounted to $27,273,682. It is the District’s policy to charge off as a current expenditure any purchases less than $5,000. The total capital assets recorded were land and its improvements, buildings, equipment and vehicles
During the past year, the District long-term liabilities increased by $532,048.
Phillip Fitch moved and seconded by Keri James to approve the Annual Financial Audit Report as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
3B. Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve Coleman, Horton & Company, LLP 2020-21 Contract. Phillip Fitch moved and seconded by Henry Moreno to Approve Coleman, Horton & Company, LLP 2020-21 Contract as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
7. Keri James moved and seconded by Henry Moreno to approve consent agenda as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
8A. Consider and take possible action to approve Election Services Contract with Frio County for the November 3, 2020 Election.
On March 18, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott signed a proclamation suspending portions of the election code to allow political subdivisions to postpone their May 2, 2020 election to the next uniform election date which is November 3, 2020. We normally would have had the election jointly with the City of Devine, but the Election Code requires school districts to have a joint election with the County for the November uniform election date and to use their polling locations.
At the July 20, 2020 Board Meeting, the board approved an election contract with Medina County to conduct our election for both Medina and Frio Counties. Since then, Medina County expressed concerns about conducting the Frio County portion of the election due to the Federal Election that will also be on the ballot.
Administrative Consideration: Medina County will continue to conduct the election for Medina County voters. Frio County has agreed to conduct our election for Frio County voters. The County will hire and train election workers, take care of obtaining election ballots, conduct early voting in person and by mail, conduct election day voting, tally the ballots, prepare tabulation for canvass and will serve as custodian of voted ballots. The district will prepare and post election orders and notices, and prepare the ballot.
Chris Davis moved and seconded by Keri James to approve Election Services Contract with Frio County for the November 3, 2020 Election as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
The election was postponed to the November 3 election date. Another amendment made was that Frio County will conduct the District 3 portion of the election for voters that reside in Frio County.
8B. Henry Moreno moved and seconded by Keri James to approve amended Order and Notice of Election as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
8C. The County received CARES Act funding and decided to use some of the funding to provide these items to Medina County Schools. Medina County is providing body temperature scanners, bus temperature scanners, wireless access points, bus hotspots, 1 year subscription for 80 hotspots, Chromebooks, charging cart, disposable facemasks, sneeze guards, water bottle refilling stations and portable sneeze guards. Administrative Consideration: The interlocal agreement allows the county to purchase items requested by Devine ISD as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school agrees to use said items to aid the education of students as well as the health and safety of the students, teachers and all employees of the school. Phillip Fitch moved and seconded by Chris Davis to Approve Interlocal Agreement with Medina County to Purchase Items requested by Devine ISD as a result of the COVID-10 pandemic as presented. Yea: 6, Nay: 0, Absent: 1, Motion Passed.
The board convened in Executive Session to consider hiring professional staff.
10A. Phillip Fitch moved and seconded by Chris Davis to Hire Jason Mohr as recommended by Superintendent. Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2, Motion Passed.
11. Henry Moreno moved and seconded by Chris Davis to adjourn. Yea: 5, Nay: 0, Absent: 2, Motion Passed.
Meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Trustee Carl Brown was not present. (Trustee Renee Frieda left right after closed session ended, so was absent for the last vote only.)