For the first time in at least 20 years, Mineola schools failed to receive a perfect score on the state’s financial accountability rating.

Mineola was dunned two points for its ratio of debt to appraised property values.

The reason, the district took on nearly $30 million in debt to build a new primary campus and wound up with a 4.2% ratio. The cutoff for a perfect score is 4%, which will likely be achieved again next year as the district pays down the bonds and property values continue to increase.

Districts have to score 70 or better on the financial assessment to pass.

The report was presented at Monday’s school board meeting.

Another way districts are graded by the state is the A-F accountability rating.

Superintendent Cody Mize said that about 100 school districts have sued the state over changes in the system that caused many districts to receive potentially lower scores in spite of making improvements.

That case is tied up in court, and the results can’t be released until the matter is resolved.

Mize noted that it has been proposed the state abandon the A-F grading system.

Construction at the primary campus is going well, he said, and the facility should be under roof in December.

The timetable for opening the campus continues to creep earlier as construction is ahead of schedule.

He said the district got some good news in recent days that it has received a $692,000 grant for school safety measures.

That will pay for fencing at the new school as well as bullet-resistant window film at the new campus as well as at other district facilities.

Planning for the next construction project, converting the elementary campus into a career and technical education (CTE) center, is moving along.

Mize said district officials recently met with Tyler Junior College officials to review the CTE facility plans as they relate to current and future programs.

The district was presented a new $48,800 skid steer for the vocational ag department from the proceeds of the Mineola Hay Show.

The Mineola Community Chest also presented the district with $500 for each campus plus the Wood County Special Ed Co-op for students in need.

Mize also thanked the Mineola Education Foundation for presenting Thanksgiving turkeys to the staff.