Clear Creek Independent School District announced on Nov. 17 that it received a "superior achievement," or A, rating under the Texas School Financial Accountability Rating System (the FIRST rating) for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2024.

Ms. Binzai, the districts chief financial officer, told the board that the FIRST rating consolidates 21 indicators across three groups: five critical indicators, solvency indicators and financial competence measures. "We have received a rating of superior achievement, or an A," she said, and noted the district received an overall score of 94. She reported the district met the critical indicators, had a clean, unmodified audit opinion and met payment terms on all debt agreements.

Binzai identified the districts point deductions as arising from the long-term-liabilities-to-assets measure, which the district scored 4 out of 10 on and plans to monitor. She also summarized other solvency and competence indicators, including that general fund revenues equaled or exceeded expenditures and the district maintained sufficient days of cash on hand.

Trustees publicly thanked the finance staff. "The reason why we've received this award for the last 19 years is because the departments cross training and collaboration," one trustee said, adding the result reflected fiscal discipline rather than extra funding.

Binzai also announced required disclosures included superintendent and board travel expenditures and stated the superintendent received no outside consulting compensation and that executive officers and board members did not receive gifts exceeding $250. She said the district earned both the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) certificate of achievement and the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) certificate of excellence in financial reporting for the fiscal year ending 08/31/2024, each for the 19th consecutive year.

The public hearing concluded with no community speakers on the report. The board thanked the finance department and closed the hearing.