Pflugerville ISD scores 98/100, marking 13th straight superior FIRST rating

At a Pflugerville ISD board meeting, a district presenter reported the district received a 98 out of 100 rating under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2023–24 rating year, marking the district’s 13th consecutive year of superior achievement.

"Pflugerville ISD has a long standing history of financial integrity," said Miss Lynn, who presented the FIRST report to trustees and walked the board through the scoring framework used by the state. She said FIRST uses 21 indicators totaling 100 points across three categories: critical indicators, solvency indicators and financial competence indicators.

Miss Lynn explained that failing any of the system’s critical indicators leads to a substandard (F) rating regardless of point totals, while some indicators function as ceilings that cap a district’s maximum possible score. She gave two examples: a district under a warrant hold would have its maximum score limited (the presenter used 95 points as an illustrative cap), and a district on an FSP repayment plan could be capped at 70 points.

The presenter said Pflugerville ISD scored 98 points in 2023–24, up from 96 points the previous year. She attributed the net increase to a four-point gain on indicator 8 (current assets to liabilities) and a two-point drop on indicator 11 (long-term liabilities to assets).

On indicator 8, Miss Lynn said the district’s prior lower score reflected a drawdown of pandemic stabilization funds in 2022, when the district used "about $11,000,000" and recorded a deficit; the most recent data showed a small surplus and restored points. On indicator 11, she said the score decreased because the district issued bonds, which raised long-term liabilities and reduced that indicator from 10 to 8 points.

She also noted that indicators 10 (budgeted revenue to actuals) and 15 (accuracy of pupil projections) were not evaluated this year and districts received full points on those indicators because of COVID-19–related grace periods.

Miss Lynn reviewed required disclosures for the FY2022–23 reporting window, saying the superintendent’s contract (for Doctor Shepherd, who was seated at the time of the public hearing) is posted on the district website and that disclosures for reimbursements and business transactions were reviewed; she said disclosures 3–5 (consulting compensation, gifts and business transactions) had no reportable items and disclosure 6 contained no additional items.

Trustee Mott asked whether the dip in indicator 11 was likely to stabilize; Miss Lynn said she did not anticipate a further decrease but could not predict when indicator 11 might rise. Trustee Mott also praised the finance team for their professionalism and stability.

A trustee requested clarification about the difference between "pass" and "ceiling pass" on a slide; Miss Lynn explained that "pass" refers to meeting a critical indicator (failure results in a substandard rating) while "ceiling pass" describes the ceiling mechanics that limit a district’s maximum possible grade if not met.

With no further questions, the board moved to adjourn. Trustee Mott made the motion to adjourn, Trustee Mayer seconded, and the board approved the motion 7–0. The meeting concluded at 6:16 p.m.

The FIRST rating provides an annual snapshot of a district’s fiscal indicators; trustees received the report in advance and discussed the indicator-level changes and required disclosures during the public hearing.