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August 19, 2019
Medina ISD superintendent speaks from the helm, says the district is on an even keel
By Jessica Goode
The Bandera Prophet
After receiving a barrage of phone calls from concerned citizens, Medina ISD Superintendent Kevin Newsom wants to assure all parents that the school district is stable and steady. Although the state hasn’t done it any favors, Newsom said MISD will continue to edge forward.
“The financial integrity of the school is as strong as it’s ever been,” Newsom said.
Agreeing that school funding needed an overhaul, Newsom said legislative change was long overdue, even though smaller schools came out on the shorter end of the stick.
“Our thoughts on House Bill 3 is we just don’t believe there’s parity in it,” Newsom said. “We didn’t get the financing that some schools did.”
That being acknowledged, Newsom said Medina ISD’s TEA (Texas Education Agency) evaluation delivered the district a superior rating.
“We have done a really good job at being extremely conservative. We put our [staff] and students first,” Newsom said. “We’d like more money from the state, but we have no financial problems. This district is very strong.”
Newsom said a $5.95 million bond was passed in 2017, which helped fund new agri-science and culinary arts centers, and update the air conditioning system, among other improvements.
“Schools all over the state are getting ready to ask their boards to approve a deficit budget because of HB3. Our next board meeting is Aug. 28, and we’re going to approve a balanced budget,” Newsom said. “That doesn’t sound like a district that’s trying to stay afloat. Taxpayers are in support of the school.”
Newsom said as a spokesman for the district, which this year has an average of 320 students, he is not happy with HB 3. But because the board has been judicious, he said the district is sound.
“We do not think that HB 3 was fair. We had to take a real hard, long look, but I will tell you that this district is not drowning,” Newsom said. “Do we have to run our ship tighter sometimes more than others? Yeah, we do. But we do a good job of it. There’s no reason to be scared.”
“The financial integrity of the school is as strong as it’s ever been,” Newsom said.
Agreeing that school funding needed an overhaul, Newsom said legislative change was long overdue, even though smaller schools came out on the shorter end of the stick.
“Our thoughts on House Bill 3 is we just don’t believe there’s parity in it,” Newsom said. “We didn’t get the financing that some schools did.”
That being acknowledged, Newsom said Medina ISD’s TEA (Texas Education Agency) evaluation delivered the district a superior rating.
“We have done a really good job at being extremely conservative. We put our [staff] and students first,” Newsom said. “We’d like more money from the state, but we have no financial problems. This district is very strong.”
Newsom said a $5.95 million bond was passed in 2017, which helped fund new agri-science and culinary arts centers, and update the air conditioning system, among other improvements.
“Schools all over the state are getting ready to ask their boards to approve a deficit budget because of HB3. Our next board meeting is Aug. 28, and we’re going to approve a balanced budget,” Newsom said. “That doesn’t sound like a district that’s trying to stay afloat. Taxpayers are in support of the school.”
Newsom said as a spokesman for the district, which this year has an average of 320 students, he is not happy with HB 3. But because the board has been judicious, he said the district is sound.
“We do not think that HB 3 was fair. We had to take a real hard, long look, but I will tell you that this district is not drowning,” Newsom said. “Do we have to run our ship tighter sometimes more than others? Yeah, we do. But we do a good job of it. There’s no reason to be scared.”