Homeowners in the Houston Independent School will see a decrease in property tax rates for the 2019-2020 school year under a recommendation being considered by the district’s Board of Education on Thursday.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, in the Manuel Rodríguez Jr. Board Auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St., 77092. Click here to view the full agenda.

During the 2019 Texas legislative session, House Bill 3 was passed and signed into law requiring a compression of school district tax rates of $0.07 per $100 valuation. If approved by trustees, HISD would decrease the current tax rate to $1.1367 from $1.2067 per $100 of taxable property value. Taxpayers could still pay more in taxes if their property value increases.

For the three preceding school years (2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019), the district maintained a tax rate of $1.2067 per $100 of taxable property value.

The board will also consider approving on second reading a proposal to give employee groups the right to hold elections to select representatives who can be their voice at consultation meetings with administration when it comes to issues of wages, employment hours and work conditions.

Also, on Thursday, trustees will consider whether to accept a $1 million grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to continue to improve services to students with dyslexia for the 2019-2020 school year.

Likewise, trustees will consider accepting two in-kind grants of musical instruments for Attucks and Lawson middle schools from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation has awarded Attucks Middle School a Music Rising Grant in instruments valued at $55,085. The purpose of this grant is to provide musical instruments to school music programs impacted by natural disasters, such as hurricanes. In partnership with the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation has awarded Lawson Middle School with instruments valued at $56,404.

During the meeting, trustees and Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will also proclaim Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2019 as Hispanic Heritage Month in HISD. September will also be proclaimed as Literacy Awareness Month and Attendance Awareness Month. Additionally, they will also proclaim Sept. 8-14, 2019 as National Suicide Prevention Week in HISD with the goal of raising suicide awareness to help save children’s lives.

The board meeting will be broadcast live online at www.hisdtv.org and on HISD TV (Xfinity channel 18 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99).