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Crowley ISD reports 84/100 in FIRST financial rating; trustees press on debt and thresholds
Summary
At a public hearing on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), Crowley ISD officials said the district scored 84 out of 100, retaining a ‘B/Above Standard’ rating; trustees questioned the long‑term liabilities metric and options to improve scores.
Crowley ISD officials presented the district’s FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) report in a public hearing and reported an overall score of 84 out of 100, which the presenter characterized as maintaining a "B, above standard achievement." The presentation explained that FIRST evaluates compliance, solvency and liquidity across multiple indicators and that the 2024–25 rating is based on the 2023–24 audited financial statements.
Presenter Mr. Fisher walked trustees through individual indicators and points, noting the district scored about 63 days of cash on hand and that the current‑assets‑to‑current‑liabilities ratio was roughly 6.5. On the long‑term liabilities indicator (indicator 11), the district earned 4 out of 10 points — a lower result linked to bond debt and an enrollment threshold (1,000 students) used in that metric. When Trustee Latanya Woodson Mayfield asked what would be required to achieve higher points, Fisher explained the threshold ranges and said a 10 would correspond to a ratio at or below 60% under that indicator’s formula.
Trustees discussed options the district can pursue to improve scores, including increasing enrollment, retiring or refinancing older debt, and monitoring bond‑related liabilities. Mr. Fisher and Superintendent Michael McFarland told the board those are the levers district leaders and financial advisers watch as they plan bond construction and long‑term debt strategy.
