Cameron ISD moves forward with solar project agreements

The Cameron Independent School District Board of Trustees discussed teacher incentive allotments and moved forward with an application for an appraised value limitation from the Two Rivers Solar project during a meeting on Monday night.

A public hearing was held about the Two Rivers Solar Project tax limitation agreement with no public participation.

Blake Powell from Powell Law Group was on hand for the hearing. He said the public hearing was an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the pending application for the tax limitation agreement.

The board voted to enter into an agreement for the limitation on appraised value of property for school district maintenance and operations taxes with Two Rivers Solar.

The project is a $293 million investment. It will create two new jobs. The Texas Comptroller found that the project is economically viable. The revenue protection benefit will be a little more that $2 million for the school district. The district will receive payments of around $146,000 for the next sixteen years per the agreement.

During the Superintendent’s Report, Kevin Sprinkles said that the district is planning a community cook-off for May 7. He also updated the board on the progress of the district’s information meetings about the bond election, saying they were going well and he has answered a lot of questions.

Assistant Superintendent Mistie Dekroub presented the District of Innovation report to the board and discussed the Teacher Incentive Allotment.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) was created by the Texas Legislature as part of House Bill 3 to provide a realistic pathway for top teachers to earn six-figure salaries and to help attract and retain highly effective teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff schools.

Dekroub said she has been working on the Teacher Incentive Allotment and how that will look in the district. 

The board also: approved the purchase of a public address system for the Cameron Elementary and Junior High, approved instruction allotments for TEKS certification; and honored state qualifiers in wrestling, powerlifting and FFA applied agricultural engineering.