TEXARKANA, Texas -- The Liberty-Eylau Independent School District Board of Trustees approved more than $171,000 for band equipment at the Liberty-Eylau High School campus in a regular meeting on Thursday evening.
"The district is requesting board approval to purchase brass, woodwind, electronic and percussion instruments to ensure that the band is equipped with required instruments to enhance the band's sound quality for extracurricular activities, community events and to develop the performance skills of our students," Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ceretha Brown said.
The purchase of $171,565 will be paid for through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II funds.
The board also approved around $109,000 in ESSER funds to pay for technology upgrades involving network infrastructure. Brown said the upgrades will improve the network district-wide.
In other news from the meeting, an official audit report for the school year ending June 30, 2021 was given by Thomas & Thomas.
No major findings were found other than one deficiency. The district's debt service fund expenses slightly exceeded the budgeted amount for the year.
Tim Holt, who presented the audit report on behalf of Thomas & Thomas, said this was related to the board's refunding bonds, which caused the fund to go out of budget.
Overall, however, Holt said he would give the district a letter grade of an "A" on the audit.
In his reports to the board, Superintendent Ronnie Thompson said the district finished the month with a student enrollment total of 2,151, which is down 84 from the beginning of last year.