A rendering of the putting green and student parking of a proposed golf training facility at A.T. Stewart campus on West Shaw Street in Tyler. (Contributed Photo)

The first Tyler ISD Board of Trustees meeting of the school year began with Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford providing updates on the first day of school. Additionally, the fiscal year budget was approved and plans were discussed for a new golf facility.

In his report, Crawford said there is only one classroom vacancy, which is currently being covered by certified support staff.

“We’re very happy that all of our students have a degreed professional, most of them certified, teaching them,” he said. “We’ve come a long way … we’re very pleased that we do have folks that are willing to choose education as a profession.”

He continued the update by noting that Tyler ISD currently has 18,359 students enrolled for the year, an increase from last year’s enrollment of 18,166. He also reported 84 percent of the teachers returned from the previous year, with a 16 percent attrition rate, which he described as “manageable.”

“We’ve got a lot of veteran teachers that we’re hiring, not (just) brand-new to the profession,” Crawford said. “If they’re a TIA teacher, 89 percent of those returned. We’re very pleased that they are sticking around for their opportunities to reward that growth.”

Crawford clarified that, respectively, there is 16 percent and 11 percent turnover rate between the two teacher groups.

The first day of school update also included that only one bus route had to be double covered but the district still has enough drivers to run the routes effectively.

“We’re very proud … that folks are choosing to drive for Tyler ISD,” Crawford said.

Other updates included addressing air conditioning issues at approximately 12 to 15 campuses across the district, installing volleyball sleeves in the new Hubbard Middle School gym, and noting the elevator at Boulter Middle School is now operational.

Budget

The board voted to approve its proposed general fund budget for the 2024-2025 school year. The region’s largest school district goes into the new school year with a budget of more than $179.5 million.

“It’s a balanced budget, virtually flat from last year,” Crawford said. “There has not been any increase of revenue from the state legislature. There has been a 5-cent decrease in the tax rate from 96 to 91 cent so there has been a tax compression as well.”

The board set the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate at $0.6669 and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate at $0.2431, resulting in a total tax rate of $0.91 per $100 of taxable value. This rate includes an additional $0.05 per $100 added to the District’s maximum compressed rate. The new M&O tax rate will result in increased revenue for maintenance and operations compared to the previous year’s rate. This adjustment is intended to support the district’s objectives and operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I think for the last 11 years straight now, we’ve provided some type of compensation boost for our employees and we realize that in this budget as well,” Crawford said. “It’s getting tougher to be lean, especially the way the economy is treating us right now. As far as inflation goes, things just cost more.”

Although the district isn’t flushed with funds to provide substantial salary increases to employees, Crawford said it remains committed to exploring alternative ways to support staff and enhance their overall compensation package within the constraints of the budget.

“We’ve got 5 million plus kids in the state of Texas that we want to make sure that we’re paying their teachers a good salary and that we’re attracting talent in the classrooms,” Crawford said. “And the only way to do that is to compete with compensation against other industries.”

Smith County’s property valuations increased by 8 to 10% this year; however, due to state limitations, the district is capped at a 2.5% increase in revenue. Despite a decrease in the tax rate, the school district saw only a minimal revenue increase. This reflects recent constraints put in place to manage valuations more conservatively, ensuring fiscal responsibility and reassuring taxpayers that the district is maintaining prudent financial practices.

The board opened the floor for public comment on the 2024-2025 proposed budget that outlined the general operating costs, food service and debt service funds. No one spoke and members then approved the budget.

“We think it’s a win this year as far as this year’s budget goes … it’s going to be tougher in future years because if we stay the same as far as state revenue goes and what the formula provides without an increase from the legislature, we’re going to have a hard time. But … we’ll find a way,” Crawford said.

The board members also voted to approve the 2023-2024 final amended budget for general, food service and debt service funds.

Golf training facility

At the November 2023 board meeting, the board authorized the administration to retain Corgan & Associates for the design of a golf practice facility for Tyler ISD. The under-utilized area on the west side of the A.T. Stewart Middle campus, located at 2800 W. Shaw St. in Tyler, has been identified as the ideal location for this facility. Crawford emphasized this project is intended to be a golf practice facility, not a full golf course as that could cost around half a billion dollars.

The board’s final approval is still required before any further steps are taken.

“We have great golf teams … however, there’s not necessarily a home course where Tyler ISD can go practice,” said Board President Wade Washmon.

The golf teams have been trying to utilize local country clubs; however, they often face challenges due to the clubs prioritizing their paid members or limited availability. Some allow one tee time with five players at least two days a week, only usage of putting green but not the driving range and some clubs are members only.

“We have beautiful golf courses here and we’ve been very appreciative of them making space when they can but we understand that their members need to enjoy the facilities that they paid for,” Crawford said. “We want to give our student-athletes the opportunity to practice.”

According to Athletic Director Greg Priest, the Tyler Legacy golf team has about 30 boys and 30 girls trying out and will end up with between 12 to 15 on each team, and Tyler High School’s golf team fluctuates between four to six golfers. There has also been interest in starting a golf team for the junior high schools.

“When you’re able to work with five, you’re sending 10 kids out — ‘hey, go to your home golf course and practice’ — it leaves a lot of unsupervised kids,” Priest said. “So, this would give us a lot more opportunity to be able to work with our kids (and) give us a place where we can train. It would also … enable us to get more kids involved in the program.”

Cherie Jones, Construction Project Manager for the Tyler ISD Facility Services Department, presented on behalf of Corgan & Associates, showcasing renderings of the proposed golf training facility. The project will involve demolishing the existing chain-link fencing and replacing it with new fencing. The area will also undergo vegetation clearing and some tree removal.

The new facility will feature a 1,927-square-foot CMU brick structure, accompanied by 14 hitting bays, putting and bunker areas, and five raised target greens. These target greens will be synthetic and will be sloped and marked at distances ranging from 50 to 95 yards, with additional markers at the 150 and 200-yard points. To address any concerns about golf balls potentially entering the streets, the project will include a 20-foot net extending from the inside parking lot past the hitting bays.

“With going through working on this property, we would have to go in and look at the infrastructure, make improvements to the utilities, storm sewer and then also provide positive drainage away from the golf facility,” Jones said.

To enter the facility, there will be a sliding gate with a motorized electronic card reader leading to the existing parking lot. They plan on re-striping the parking lot, as well as adding two new light poles. The drive will have new concrete paving installed and an ADA sidewalk ramp leading to the building.

The building will have a hitting bay room with motorized insulated overhead door, storage for equipment, and restrooms.

“Overall, I think you can easily see that the students will have a variety of ways to play the field for practicing their short and their long games,” Jones said.

The project is currently in the bidding stages, and the district will not reveal the cost of the project until the bids are reviewed and a contractor is selected.