COPPERAS COVE – For the second consecutive year, Copperas Cove ISD has earned a perfect score in the state’s financial integrity ratings.
The Texas Education Agency’s finalized Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas rating for 2024 gave CCISD yet another perfect mark and the district’s 20th-straight “Superior” rating, the highest rating possible.
The FIRST rating evaluates public and charter schools across the state on 15 indicators, including operating expenses for instruction, tax collection rate, student-teacher ratios and long-term debt.
“As a district, we work hard to be good stewards of the tax dollars we receive from our community in Copperas Cove,” said Chief Financial Officer Cliff Heath. “We are diligent in stretching each dollar as far as possible in order to ensure we provide our students a great education in a safe and secure environment. We’re confident our community sees the work that goes into a rating like this.”
The Texas Legislature created the FIRST system in 2001 as a way to encourage public schools in the state to better manage their financial resources.
CCISD has never scored below “Superior” since ratings were first issued.
This calendar year also saw the CCISD Business Services department earn the Award of Merit from the Texas Association of School Business Officials for the first time for efforts in following state purchasing guidelines.
“We appreciate the work that our business office has done in lockstep with all of our campuses and departments to ensure Copperas Cove ISD remains focused on financial responsibility,” Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns said. “I’d like to also thank our Board of Trustees and our entire district staff for their tireless work to ensure each dollar in our district goes as far as it can to provide the best opportunity for each and every one of our students.”
The district will hold a public hearing to review the rating. It is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2024, ahead of the board’s regular November meeting. The hearing will take place in the Board Room at the CCISD Service & Training Center, located at 408 S. Main St.