Highland Park Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of "Superior Achievement" under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (School FIRST). The Superior Achievement rating is the state's highest, demonstrating the quality of the Highland Park ISD's financial management and reporting system.
The district's School FIRST rating is based upon an analysis of staff and student data reported for the 2011-12 school year, and budgetary and actual financial data for the 2011 fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2011.
School FIRST is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 218 of the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001. The primary goal of School FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts' financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas' school finance system. The accountability system was established in 2003.
"Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Tim Turner, Director of Business Services Kris Ingersoll and their staff work diligently with the school board trustees and community members who serve on our finance committee to ensure the district's fiscal integrity," said HPISD Superintendent Dr. Dawson Orr. "We are very pleased with Highland Park ISD's School FIRST rating."
Highland Park ISD held a public hearing on School FIRST Oct. 16.
Story courtesy of Highland Park ISD