A Dr. Rick Westfall, Keller ISD Superintendent
Message from
It’s hard to believe that spring is here and the 2017-18 school year is coming
to an end. It’s been an incredible year, and I just want to take a moment to
recognize how many great things are happening in our District every single
day. From National Merit Scholarship Finalists, to State-qualifying Athletic
and Fine Arts students, to CTE National Qualifiers, to Battle of the Books
winners – there’s a great deal to be proud of in Keller ISD.
In fact, did you know that Keller ISD is in the bottom 20 percent in Texas
when it comes to per-student spending, but ranks in the top 15 percent
academically? Simply put, we achieve more with less. However, in order
to maintain the momentum of providing exceptional opportunities for our
students, it is imperative that we continue to search out opportunities to
increase funding that will ultimately propel us into the next decade of learning.
Hopefully by now you’ve heard that Keller ISD is exploring a plan to generate additional revenue
for the District while also lowering taxpayers’ overall tax rate – it’s a Tax Rate Swap & Drop. I’ve
already had the chance to meet with several local organizations, community members, parents,
and dedicated KISD staff to walk them through this plan.
Texas school districts’ tax rates are broken up into two separate rates – an Interest and Sinking
(I&S) rate that funds the payment of debt from bonds that are used to build and maintain school
buildings, and a Maintenance and Operations (M&O) rate that funds everything else including
programming, teacher salaries, and utilities. The M&O rate is currently capped at $1.04 per
$100 property valuation, but can be raised to $1.17 with the community's approval. This is done
through a Tax Ratification Election, which the Board will vote on in June, with the potential for an
election in early September.
Due to higher valuations and fiscally responsible refinancing over the years, Keller ISD is in the
position to lower the I&S rate by $0.14. That reduction combined with a voter approved increase
in the M&O rate of $0.13 would infuse a much-needed $19 million in operating revenue in the
District budget all while lowering the overall tax rate by $0.01.
To learn more, see the informational flyer on the next page, visit www.kellerisd.net/swapdrop, or
watch this short overview video on Keller ISD’s YouTube page.
Graduation is right around the corner, and as I round out my first year as Superintendent in Keller
ISD, I couldn’t be more excited to watch more than 2700 graduates from our four amazing high
schools walk across that stage in the coming weeks. Ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May
26, at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park Center with Keller High at 8 a.m., Timber
Creek at 12 p.m., Central at 4 p.m., and Fossil Ridge at 8 p.m. Remember that graduations are
ticketed events, but if you’re not able to join us, each one will be streamed live on www.KellerISD.
net/GraduationLive.
Thank you for your continuous support of Keller ISD. Follow us throughout the summer on
Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on District information, events, and plans for the 2018-19
school year!
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