TIOGA, Texas (KXII) – Tioga ISD’s accreditation is at risk due to ongoing financial struggles, and it’s going to take “a village” to protect it.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has informed the district that its financial rating puts its accreditation in jeopardy. District leaders will travel to Austin on March 3 to plead their case before the TEA.
“We have a lot of really great things going on in Tioga ISD that you can’t tell by some financial metric,” said Dallas Slay, Tioga ISD school board president. “If it was that easy, then we wouldn’t be here.”
Superintendent Josh Ballinger said the district was performing well when he took the position.
“Things were rocking and rolling,” Ballinger said. “I got the high school building open in 2018 and population was still increasing.”
The district’s financial troubles began when COVID-19 struck in 2020. Student enrollment stopped growing, and strains from building the high school created financial problems.
“[We] failed our financial rating for the first time in 2020,” Ballinger said. “We’ve failed every one since and can’t get out of that trend.”
The TEA could take several actions, ranging from appointing its own school board and superintendent, to forcing the district to close permanently.
Parents said they remain confident in the district despite the financial challenges.
“We choose to bring our kids here because this is where we want to be, not because we have to be here,” said Laura Koiner, a parent. “It means a lot that they’re fighting for us. They’re truly willing to put everything on the line to make sure we’re still successful.”
She added that it “truly is a family,” and they have “a village [in Tioga].”
District officials said they believe showcasing the school’s academic achievements will help their case with the state.
“I firmly believe Tioga’s best days are ahead of us,” Slay said.
The final decision will rest with the TEA following the March 3 hearing.
“It’s going to be in the hands of the commissioner,” Ballinger said.
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