The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved a lower maintenance and operations tax rate for the 2026-27 school year Monday, while also reviewing progress on 2024 bond projects, the district’s federal magnet school grant, policy changes, employee compensation, and adult meal prices.
Lower M&O tax rate approved for 2026-27
Longview ISD’s maintenance and operations tax rate will fall another penny for 2026-27, continuing a seven-year decline in the portion of the school tax rate used to pay for the district’s day-to-day operations.
The approved M&O rate is $0.6369 for every $100 of taxable property value, down from $0.6469 last year. For homeowners, the M&O portion is the part of the school tax rate that helps pay for things such as teachers, classrooms, transportation, utilities, campus operations, and other ongoing costs. It is separate from the interest and sinking, or I&S, rate, which is used to repay voter-approved bond debt.
The decline is part of a longer trend. Longview ISD’s M&O rate was $0.9664 in 2020-21 and has fallen to $0.6369 for 2026-27, a decrease of about 34% over that period. District finance officials estimate the average homeowner would see a decrease of about $93.46, although individual bills will vary depending on property values and exemptions.
The district’s total tax rate is $1.1199 per $100 of taxable value, combining the $0.6369 M&O rate with a $0.4830 I&S rate. Unlike M&O, I&S revenue can only be used to pay principal and interest on the district’s debt. The board also approved using additional I&S revenue to retire a portion of outstanding bonds early, a move intended to reduce the amount of interest taxpayers pay over time.
Trustees also approved the district’s $152.2 million budget for 2026-27. That includes approximately $108.8 million for general operations, $36.1 million for debt service, and $7.4 million for Child Nutrition. The general operating budget is about 2.3% larger than last year.
The final tax bill for an individual property owner depends on more than the tax rate alone, including the taxable value of the property and any exemptions for which the owner qualifies.
Completed projects highlight latest Bond 2024 update
Several visible pieces of Longview ISD’s 2024 bond program are now complete, including major summer renovations at Longview High School.
More than 75,000 square feet of cafeteria, restroom, and academic space were renovated this summer at LHS. The dining hall expansion provides additional serving lines and improved traffic flow, while other completed work includes renovated restrooms and academic areas. Lobo Coliseum also received extensive summer improvements, including interior painting, updated digital displays and scoreboards, and new banners and graphics.
Parking improvements are also taking shape around the high school. The district reported that the LHS project will add 326 spaces, with more than 300 additional spaces planned near the pool and softball areas. Districtwide vape detector installation has also been completed as part of the safety improvements reviewed by the Bond Oversight Committee.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the district’s largest new facilities. The Career and Technical Education Center was reported at approximately 30% complete, the new natatorium at nearly 19%, and the multipurpose indoor facility at about 16%. The new Early Childhood Development Center was approximately 6% complete, while design and construction procurement for the Transportation Center have been completed ahead of physical construction.
Members of the district’s Bond Oversight Committee recently reviewed the work and asked questions about the cafeteria, parking, safety measures, and construction timelines. The committee reported positive feedback on both the pace and quality of the work, while continuing its role of reviewing progress and sharing information with the community.
MSAP grant moves from planning to student impact
Longview ISD leaders also provided trustees with an update on the Magnet Schools Assistance Program, or MSAP, a federal grant designed to strengthen magnet programs and expand educational choices for students.
In simple terms, MSAP provides federal funding that allows the district to build and improve specialized programs, support staff training, create new learning opportunities, and strengthen connections between magnet schools and their families. During the grant’s first year, Longview ISD has focused heavily on building the people and systems needed to manage those efforts.
The district has added dedicated MSAP positions, including a magnet coordinator at Bailey Elementary, a family engagement coordinator supporting Forest Park, and districtwide leadership focused on artificial intelligence and applied learning. Grant money is also supporting professional development through the Ron Clark Academy and targeted TSI academic support at Forest Park and LEAD Academy to strengthen college readiness.
Longview ISD has also developed a financial dashboard that tracks grant spending, remaining funds, campus investments, and future needs in real time. The U.S. Department of Education’s MSAP team has showcased the district’s system and encouraged other MSAP programs nationwide to consider a similar approach.
Trustees approve statewide Policy Update 127
Trustees approved Local Policy Update 127 from the Texas Association of School Boards, or TASB, a package of recommended changes designed to keep district policy aligned with changes in state law and regulations.
Many of the revisions stem from changes following the 89th Texas Legislature and updated state administrative rules. Areas affected include superintendent and employee contracts, elective courses, gifted and talented programs, prekindergarten, and student safety.
For families and employees, the update is largely a behind-the-scenes process that makes sure Longview ISD’s local rules match current legal requirements. Local policies differ from the legal reference material provided by TASB because local policies must be formally adopted, revised, or repealed by the Board of Trustees.
Compensation policy receives clarification
The board also approved a change to its employee compensation policy intended to clarify how annualized pay works.
Under the revised language, salaried employees and designated hourly employees who qualify for annualized pay will continue receiving their earnings over 12 months in equal monthly or semimonthly payments, regardless of how many months they work during the school year. The revision also clarifies how eligible employees hired after the school year begins will be paid.
District officials said the change is a clarification of the existing compensation structure rather than the creation of a new employee pay program.
Adult cafeteria meal prices approved
Adult breakfast and lunch prices at Longview ISD cafeterias will increase for the 2026-27 school year to meet federal requirements.
The approved adult price is $4 for breakfast and $5.50 for lunch, compared with $3.50 and $5.25, respectively, last year. Student meals are not affected by the change. Longview ISD participates in the federal Community Eligibility Provision, allowing students to receive school meals at no cost.
Federal rules do not allow reimbursement dollars intended for student meals to subsidize meals purchased by adults. Because of that, districts must charge adults enough to cover the federally calculated cost of the meal. For 2026-27, that minimum is $3.94 for breakfast and $5.34 for lunch, with Longview ISD setting the rates at $4 and $5.50 to simplify cafeteria transactions.
In Other Business
During the course of the meeting, the Longview ISD Board of Trustees also:
APPROVED the minutes from the July 27 regular meeting and Aug. 12 board workshop;
APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 11;
APPROVED the SeeSaw Children’s Place contract for the 2026-27 school year;
APPROVED an agreement for the purchase of attendance credit, a state-required action even though Longview ISD is not expected to owe recapture payments for 2026-27;
APPROVED travel for Longview High School HOSA adviser Kindie Gilstrap and student Ezequiel Pascual Mata to attend the Washington Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C.;
APPROVED revisions to local policies governing advisory committees, facilities construction, employee leave and absences, and student discipline;
APPROVED the district’s Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System appraisers; and
APPROVED authorizing the superintendent to negotiate a change order with CDI for perimeter fencing.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the Longview ISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street). The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. September 28, 2026.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees, please click here.