CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Upshur Co. School Funding

Upshur Co. School Funding

By ShaVonne Herndon

Some of Upshur ISD funds are generated through land the county owns out in west Texas and Gilmer Elementary's new art program is one of many programs benefiting from this.

Gilmer Elementary art teacher Lori Martin explains the difference between an acute and an obtuse angle, but she's not teaching math.

"If they are doing a math problem and they think oh wait a minute I can draw that out and understand what I'm doing with it," said Martin. "That may help them in their TAKS scores or any problem they may see in the future."

The same funds coming in today helped jump start her art program.

"The ability to do perspective their again to do spacetional reasoning," said Gilmer ISD Superintendent Rick Albritton. "That will help them as the exercise their brain in ways that are different than traditional academic ways."

Upshur County Treasurer Myra Harris explains funds are split up based on the number of Upshur County students each district has. "It comes from the surface lease that we have through Spade Ranch," she said. 

Gilmer will receive 65-thousand,  New Diana's 27-thousand and Harmony's 21-thousand will go towards general funds. Ore City I.S.D. plans to use it's 23-thousand to enhance after school programs.

"200-thousand dollars is not a lot, but it's better than some things because a lot of counties don't have their school land and we still have ours," said Harris.

As Martin's students sketch out their next design, students are becoming well-rounded each mark of the way.

The 65-thousand generates about a half of a cent on the tax rate, meaning if this check wasn't coming in tax payers would be paying higher taxes to make up for the loss.

Big Sandy I.S.D. $19,700

Union Grove I.S.D. $18,700

Gladewater I.S.D. $16,880

Union Hill I.S.D. $6,660

Pittsburg I.S.D. $300.00