The Houston Independent School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a seven-cent decrease to the 2019-2020 property tax rate at its regular monthly September meeting. 

Homeowners residing within the district’s boundaries will see the tax rate reduced from $1.2067 to $1.1367 per $100 of taxable property value.  Individuals’ taxes may still rise if the value of their property increases. 

Trustees and Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan also proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, 2019 as Hispanic Heritage Month in HISD. September also was recognized as Literacy Awareness Month and Attendance Awareness Month.  Additionally, Sept. 8-14, 2019 was proclaimed as National Suicide Prevention Week in HISD with the goal of raising suicide awareness to help save children’s lives. 

At a special meeting on Monday, the board approved the following: 

• A proposal granting employee groups the right to elect representatives to be their voice at consultation meetings with administration on issues such as wages, employment hours, and work conditions 

• Two in-kind grants of musical instruments worth nearly $111,500 for Attucks and Lawson middle schools from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation