By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The Commerce ISD Monday during its regular meeting received a delinquent tax report, approved stipends for shortage teaching areas, plus joined a Co-Op to better assist in technology purchases.
Tab Bell, of the Law Firm of Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott, LLP out of Tyler presented the delinquent tax report. Bell informed the school board of the Firm's attempts in obtaining delinquent taxes from local businesses and residents, and provided figures on who still owes the district money.
Action is pending on 618 tax entities, at a total value of nearly $300,000, while 122 other delinquencies are currently in litigation; totaling more than $277,000.
Superintendent Blake Cooper says the figures aren't unusual for any one district.
Also Monday, the CISD board approved the paying of stipends to 20 instructors in science, math and foreign language departments at its secondary schools. The stipends are to be paid through "Title 2 funds," which are not taken from the district's general fund.
The board also Monday entered into an interlocal agreement with Join Educational Purchasing Cooperative of North Texas. The agreement, at $100 per year, will help the district in purchase technology equipment at a lower rate and more quickly.
Following approval of the interlocal agreement, the board went ahead with the purchase of two new servers at eight terabytes apiece. The servers will provide the district with much needed space to store data and serve as a backup.