PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY The lushness of the background provides a colorful backdrop for the scrolling sign that welcomes people to the new Kempner elementary campus. With just a few punchlist items set to go, the school is well on its way to being finished and will be ready for its debut in August. Please see related school photos on page 3B. With two trustees absent during Tuesday night's called meeting, the remaining members of the Lampasas Independent School District Board of Trustees set a date for a public hearing on the budget and proposed tax rate for 2009-10.

The board will meet Aug. 24 for the hearing, and LISD Business Manager Shane Jones said he will recommend rates of $1.04 for maintenance and operation, and $0.46 for interest and sinking for a total of $1.50 per $100 property valuation.

This is the same rate that was levied the previous school year because the LISD has a self-imposed $1.50 per $100 valuation tax cap, said Jones.

The public hearing will be scheduled at 6 p.m., immediately followed by a called meeting to adopt the budget and tax rate.

Trustees on Tuesday also accepted resignations from Mickie Chaney, a physical education teacher at Hanna Springs Elementary, and Kalin Wells, a science teacher at Lampasas High School.

Michael Molinar was hired as a teacher/coach at Lampasas Middle School.

Also Tuesday, trustees looked at proposed dedication plaques for the new Lampasas High School and Taylor Creek Elementary. No final decision has been made on the design.

Both campuses are set to open at the start of the 2009-2010 school term.