Dublin ISD has voted to significantly lower the tax rate, and recently received an A on its financial score as a district.
At the Monday, Sept. 31 school board meeting Superintendent Melissa Summers announced the district had received the excellent FIRST rating (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) along with an A in its 2026 Accountability rating. Due to their accountability rating DISD was named in the top 10 schools in North Texas.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of our teachers, administrators and students,” Summers said.
She thanked Business Manager Kassi Eads for all her hard work on the finances, and congratulated the team on its successes.
The board also unanimously (James Moore and Raymond Salinas were not present) approved a lower tax rate with $0.7065 per $100 valuation, compared to $0.8585 last year.
This tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate due to new growth in the school district’s area. However, on an average home residents will see about $100 savings.
The tax rate is strictly for Maintenance and Operations (M&O) since the district now has no debt.
No one spoke during a public hearing about the proposed budget and tax rate.
The board also unanimously approved its budget, which is balanced.
“She works very, very hard to get us a balanced budget,” Summers said about Eads.
Built into the budget is $16,526,092 in revenues and expenditures.
In the budget there is a 7% cost of living increase for at-will employees, a $1,000 increase plus step to teacher pay, stipends for jr. high one act play and drill team, an increase of $2 per hour for substitutes and extra assistance with insurance.
The board also heard from two Dublin High School students – Kyler Gaitan and Jitse DeBoer about the possibility of forming a bass fishing team.
The two students spoke in the nonagenda public comment portion of the meeting sharing plans and answering questions posed by the board.
The club would take place on Saturdays, and be sponsored with the help of Coach Wes Grisham who will drive the students on a boat.
Both Gaitan and DeBoer shared that several other schools in the area had fishing teams, and several other students were interested in joining too.
The board and superintendent stated they would do some research and get back with the young men.
“We want to tell you thank you for the initiative to come talk to us and present something that is meaningful to you,” Board President Bob Cervetto said.
The board also set school lunch and breakfast prices for adults. Breakfast will be $3.55 and lunch will be $5.35. Breakfast and lunch are free to all students.
The board also approved end-of-the fiscal year budget amendments.
“This does not mean we overspent,” Eads said. “This is something we do every year for the auditors.”
The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28.