On behalf of the Tatum Independent School District I welcome you to TISD and thank you for your interest in our District.

        Tatum ISD is TEA Academically Recognized District for the fourth year in row and has two Exemplary rated campuses and two Recognized rated campuses. Tatum Primary is Exemplary for the fifth straight year, Tatum Elementary has earned a fifth consecutive Recognized rating, Tatum Middle is Recognized for the third consecutive year and Tatum High is Exemplary.

        Tatum ISD is proud of this rating and has a commitment to providing an education to our students beyond meeting minimum expectations on TAKS. Tatum ISD has become an affiliate of the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, www.p21.org, and has increased efforts to incorporate the four C’s into the curriculum program - critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.  In addition, all Tatum High School students have been provided a laptop computer with 24/7 internet access to address these curriculum areas. This year will also be the second year of the dual enrollment program at THS offering 24 college credit hours paid for by TISD. Along with the $2,000 scholarship awarded by the Tatum Education Foundation to all THS graduates that have been continuously enrolled for three years, TISD is confident in the jump start we provide for students entering college.

        The 2009-10 year set another record for student enrollment at 1,496 continuing a pattern of increased enrollment over the past several years. Tatum ISD also set a record for transfer students or students attending TISD that live outside the physical boundaries at 297 or 20% of the enrollment. We think this is an indicator that TISD is the “district of choice” in East Texas.

        Tatum ISD continues to have a total tax rate of $1.04 split between the local operating budget and paying off the 2008 bond. The 2008 bond is the most recent of 5 bonds approved by the voters of Tatum ISD over the past 9 years, totaling $42 million. Tatum ISD is expected to have a balanced budget at the $1.04 tax rate through 2018.

        On behalf of Tatum ISD I offer our thanks to the community, students and staff for all of their efforts in making TISD a success. Enjoy your evening and go EAGLES!

Sincerely,

Dee W. Hartt, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools