Burnet school district business manager stepping down, says system is in good financial shape
BURNET — The Burnet School Board Oct. 15 approved the retirement of Business Manager Preston Ingram, who says he is stepping down at a time when the district is in solid financial shape.
Ingram started working for the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District 15 years ago. His last day is Dec. 21, the final day of the fall semester.
"I think we’re financially stable," he said. "It’s a perfect turnover."
Earlier in the year, trustees confronted a potential $1.5 million deficit, only to eventually arrive at a $7.6 million general fund balance.
One of the most important recommendations Ingram said he made to the board occurred at the start of the new school year, which resulted in significant savings.
He told the board interest rates for district’s $37.5 million bond had dropped to 1.85 percent. Originally the rate was 3.92 percent.
"We appreciate Mr. Ingram’s years of service to BCISD as he has helped the district navigate the ever-changing and sometimes choppy waters of school finance," said Superintendent Keith McBurnett in a statement. "I know the board of trustees and the staff of Burnet CISD join me in wishing Preston the very best in his future endeavors."
Ingram said it was his idea to retire, but he didn’t want to leave until he felt the district was financially sound.
Trustees made his retirement official by approving the measure during the School Board meeting.
"I take care of the needs of the future," Ingram said. "I just wanted to get to a place where it felt right."
Ingram’s first day at BCISD was Oct. 5, 1997. He was the business manager at Odem-Edroy Independent School District before BCISD. In all, he spent 25 years in education.
He came to Burnet for one reason, he said.
"The excitement of moving to a bigger, growing district," he said with a grin.
District officials will begin searching for a new business manager and hope to have one identified by the end of December, McBurnett said.
As to the future, Ingram is a certified public accountant and can work at a financial firm if he chooses.
One aspect of his school district job he won’t miss are the state audits, which seem to come every month, he said.
"These are hard jobs," he said. "It’s very interesting. You have to be right, you have to make good decisions. You have to be right when you handle other people’s money. You have to be extra diligent."