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TARS Partners

 

THANK YOU to our GREAT Partners for suporting TARS!


 

Gabbart Website Hosting

Today, Gabbart now proudly serves over 600 school districts across the United States while maintaining an industry leading, over 96% customer retention rate since it’s inception.  Even to this day, Atoka Public Schools remains a loyal customer.

Training and support is our #1 priority. Gabbart offers 24/7, Online, and Continued Personalized Support to ensure you never feel alone when you need assistance. At Gabbart we believe availability is the best ability!

Gabbart’s Team consists of 80% Educational background. We know how important it is to have a program that actually works well! The Home of Gabbart is located in Southeastern Oklahoma, where we developed all of our programs we use today!

CONTACT: Frankie Hill * frankie@gabbart.com * 877.810.6894 *   

See what Gabbart can do for you!     

 



Partner - Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Munoz

 

Our Clients Know That We Care

From our most experienced shareholder to our newest associate, you can have confidence that you are talking to some of the most experienced and well trained lawyers in Texas school law and labor and employment law. Chances are that if you have a problem you need solved you will be able to speak to a lawyer who has successfully litigated that issue.

When you need someone who's won before the highest Courts in the United States and Texas you can pick up the phone and talk to that attorney. If you need an expert that has written books on copyright, call us and talk to her. If you have a construction problem that can't seem to get resolved and need to talk to an attorney who has achieved superior results both in and out of litigation, pick up the phone and talk to him. 

Our commitment is to provide you with the highest level legal advice you can find in the state of Texas. We would love to provide these services to your district or organization.

In addition to our quality legal advice, Eichelbaum Wardell provides innovative trainings, materials, client alert updates, and a popular semi-monthly "Board Minutes" publication. You can also read our monthly Preventive Law Corner articles on TexasISD.com.

Eichelbaum Wardell has been recognized for high professional legal standards and ethics in the 2013 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers Edition of Martindale-Hubbell and has been awarded an AV rating, and has been so recognized since 1998.  The A signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the V denotes very high adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.  

 

CONTACT: Dennis Eichelbaum 972.377.7900  * jhe@edlaw.com * 



Educational Research Institute

 

 

 

 

Grant Writing and Administrative Experience

25 years of work experience in grants:

Directing programs at a local college and university; Conducting grant evaluations for school districts, colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations; and Serving as a grant reader for state and federal agencies, as well as, Education Service Centers. 

GRANT CONSULTANT

Educational Research Institute (ERI) has an 80% success rate. ERI specializes in grant writing and management services and can work with your agency or organization from the start of a project idea to the completion of grant design. ERI is proud of its record of accomplishments since its establishment in 2001.

ERI has secured over $269.4 million in successful grant applications for Charters, School Districts, Colleges, Medical Institutions, Universities, Non-Profits, and Municipalities.

GRANT EVALUATOR

Many funding sources require a third party evaluator to ensure compliance with the program requirements. Even when it is not always required, it is always a good idea to have an outside assessment and evaluation of your grant program in order to objectively monitor the grant. Educational Research Institute can provide this service for your district or agency whether we write or review your grant.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

"ERI offers a broad array of professional development trainings that focus on specific content and target populations which can have positive effects on performance, production, and instructional practices.".

CONTACT: Linda Alaniz, 956/357-7030 * linda@erigrants.com * 

See what ERI can do for you!



MSB website link

At our core, we believe that a culture of compliant and maximized documentation is within every district’s reach We are signing up for that journey with you because we can’t wait to see how you leverage it to grow your district’s impact.
MSB is not new to the educational realm, but our approach is. Since we began serving school districts 25 years ago, we have learned how to make this program work in a way that makes certain that the return is worth the effort. 

We are raving fans of educators and strive to be the type of people, and to provide the level of service that makes them raving fans of us.
To know the educators we work with is to know who we aspire to be.

School districts have instilled in us the power of transparency, the importance of authenticity, the result of hard work, and the strength of pursuit required to become a better company for them, one day at a time. MSB has and will continue to transform to serve our clients across the state where they need us the most: through Medicaid excellence.
CONTACT: Emily Blanco 512.435.7783 * eblanco@msb-ventures.com * 

See what MSB School Services can do for you!

 



E3 Solutions - TARS Partner

E3 works with clients to solve problems in facilities. Whether related to comfort, indoor air quality, deferred maintenance, high energy costs, or lack of funding, E3’s team designs and upgrades buildings with high-efficiency – HVAC Systems, LED Lighting, Building Automation Systems, and other infrastructure. 

CONTACT:  Steven Monkres 940.366.5202 * smonkres@e3es.com *

 



Goc Cap Corp

 Government Capital Corporation (GCC) was founded in 1992 with the exclusive purpose of providing financing for state and local governmental entities including schools, cities, counties, special districts, and their component units. Although we serve clients in all fifty states, Texas school districts is one of our primary areas of focus. Since inception, GCC has been engaged by over 523 independent school districts in Texas, representing 42% of all independent school districts statewide. GCC strives to partner with and educate our clients in a very personal way, on the uniqueness and advantages of the many innovative tax-exempt financing structures available.

Government Capital Securities Corporation (GCSC) was founded in 1999 to serve our clients in a Municipal Advisory role. Since inception, GCSC has offered a broad range of public finance services including bond election planning and structuring, maintenance notes, refunding analysis, 313 Agreements and related continuing disclosure support. By providing comprehensive advisory services, GCSC’s partnership approach has earned the trust and respect of government and public finance professionals across Texas.

CONTACT: Jake Lawrence * 817.421.5400 *  jake.lawrence@govcap.com *

CONTACT: Stephanie Cates * 469.235.1720 * stephanie.cates@govcap.com *

 

 



Schreiner U

Who We Are

At Schreiner University, students enter with hope and leave with achievement. We are a diverse, fiercely independent university. We are affiliated by choice and covenant with the Presbyterian Church (USA) with a main campus in the Texas Hill Country and first year campuses throughout the state.

What We Do

Schreiner University is a place of opportunity. We offer undergraduate and graduate students a personalized, integrated, and holistic educational experience that prepares them for meaningful work and purposeful lives in a changing global society. Students study in-depth in a specific area of interest while acquiring broad skills and habits of mind to navigate a complex, diverse, and unscripted future.

Why We Do It

  • All students are valuable and unique;
  • Every student should grow intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially;
  • We value diversity of people and thought in a setting of open, civil discourse;
  • Life-long learning and service to society are critical in a global world; and
  • Higher education must develop thoughtful, productive, and ethical citizens.

Where We Are Going

By 2023, Schreiner University will be a university of 2,250 students, educating men and women for service and leadership in the Hill Country, Texas, the nation, and world. We will recruit enthusiastic and diverse men and women and forge in them the intellectual, emotional, and personal resilience that has made Schreiner Institute, College, and University the uniquely Texan educational institution it has been, is, and will be.

The Texas Center @ Schreiner University | Uniquely Texan 

The Texas Center at Schreiner University

Texas History, Culture, and People

The Texas Center at Schreiner University is an educational ecosystem that offers opportunities for students and the general population to learn and appreciate the uniqueness of Texan history, culture, and people. Texas has always been at the intersection of people, cultures, and ideas, and populated by immigrants. As a result, it has become an exceptionally diverse state with a history of redeeming, restoring, and transforming ordinary individuals into people who achieve the extraordinary. (see more....)

CONTACT: Chris Stevenson * 830.928.4410 *  cstevenson@schreiner.edu *
  

  

 

 



Leon-Alcala

Our attorneys are passionate advocates serving governmental entities in all areas of public law. Our attorneys have successfully represented public educational entities for decades as general and special counsel. In both the courtroom and the boardroom, our attorneys are experienced advocates and counselors, sensitive to the special needs of elected officials and the constituents they serve. We have assisted school districts in negotiating agreements under Chapter 313 of the Texas Tax Code, the Texas Economic Development Act, in tax incentive agreements resulting in tens of billions of dollars in new investments in Texas. Our public finance team represents counties, cities and public school districts as bond counsel, tax counsel and disclosure counsel in connection with public finance transactions.

CONTACT: John Jannsen at 817-385-6404 or  jjanssen@leonalcala.com.

See what Leon & Alcala can do for you!

 


 

Frost Bank logo

 

It’s about award winning service at Frost BankIt’s about more than money. It’s about treating people right, keeping our word, and going above and beyond. When you have an account with Frost, you have a relationship with Frost. We’ll answer the phone when you call 24/7, right here in Texas. And we’ll be here for you with a square deal and prudent financial advice and tools to help you with all the milestones in the years ahead.

CONTACT: Kevin Escobar * 210.220.5470 * kevin.escobar@frostbank.com *

CONTACT: Duncan Morrow * 210.220.5711 * duncan.morrow@frostbank.com *

 


 

Ascender Logo

The TCC has been providing high quality, compliant, comprehensive business and student software and support to Texas LEAs for over 50 years.

The ASCENDER Enterprise software offers all the features you would expect, and so much more, including workflows, customized reports, and resource planning tools. The powerful web-based Business ERP and Student Information System applications are written specifically for Texas schools. All state-mandated extracts and support for federal OCR reporting are included. ASCENDER features a professionally designed user interface to simplify tasks with consistency and refined functionality throughout each application, as well as sleek, easy navigation.

The ASCENDER State Reporting application allows LEAs to extract the required data for each PEIMS and TSDS collections from the Business and Student applications. The ASCENDER software is updated to ensure ongoing compliance with TEA requirements.

Business and Student data is edited to ensure it meets requirements of the TEA Data Standards. The ASCENDER software provides flexibility to convert local codes to state mandated values to ensure compliance with state reporting requirements.

CONTACT: Nancy Seidensticker *** 210.370.5282 *** nancy.seidensticker@esc20.net *** 

 



 

 

Pearson Legal

Pearson Legal, PC specializes in insurance recovery and construction defect on contingency and have represented school districts as well as other government entities across the State of Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado.  If you have questions about your construction project or any open property insurance claims, please contact Michelle Cruff!

CONTACT: Michelle Cruff * 210.730.6934 * mcfruff@pearsonlegalpc.com *

 



 

Veregy

Veregy is an industry leader in energy efficiency solutions, solar and smart building technology. We believe innovation — together with unparalleled service — creates the most long-term value for our clients. Veregy’s experienced and dedicated team develop and deliver customized strategies to resolve our client’s facility challenges, while optimizing building performance and reducing energy consumption. We also believe in bringing out the best in each other. Customer relationships built on transparency last longer, which is at the core of everything we do.

Veregy has delivered billions in energy performance contracts for clients in:

Veregy’s clients have access to an award-winning portfolio of engineering and energy service companies to address their rapidly growing energy efficiency and long-term master-planning needs. These span: eco-friendly infrastructure upgrades; day-to-day facility monitoring and comprehensive solutions in mechanical, plumbing, lighting, solar, battery storage, geothermal; and customized building automation/energy management systems.

CONTACT: Madeline Urquhart * 208.305.8511 * murquhart@veregy.com *

 



 

PayK-12

PAYK12 is a cloud-based software platform that provides districts, schools, and the departments within, one digital hub for managing school payments and funds.

EFFICIENCY – Give administrators a single solution to collect, report and manage school payments and funds.

REPORTING – Insight into every transaction coming into and out of the school provides financial visibility and transparency.

LESS RISK – Reduce fund mismanagement and improve security by allowing parents and students the ability to pay electronically.

INTEGRATION – Seamlessly plugin your student management system, accounting and scheduling platform for ultimate effiency.

PAYMENTS – Parents have easy online access to view their child's account balance, purchase history and required fees.

SUPPORT – Our support team is the best in the business, always available to help answer any questions.

CONTACT: TJ Markland * tj@payk12.com * 888.478.5273, EXT 308 * 

 



 

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP is a national law firm with a practice dedicated to the collection of delinquent government receivables.

For over 45 years now, Linebarger has been providing customized collection programs for its public sector clientele. Our services allow our clients to spend more of their time and limited resources on providing the core services their constituents expect, while avoiding unnecessary tax increases and cuts to essential public services.

Our People – A Customer-Driven Focus

The cornerstone of our law firm is our people and their commitment to delivering the best customer service possible.

A Unique Service Offering – A History of Success

Our law firm has successfully merged the practice of law, with the business of collections and advanced technology to create a unique service offering. The result has been the recovery of billions of dollars in additional revenue for our government clients.

Compliance with the Law

Lawyers supervise and participate in our clients’ collection programs, and they must abide by the strict rules prescribed by the supreme courts in each of the states where they are licensed to practice law. Our law firm also must comply with the laws that govern the collection industry.

CONTACT: Wade Gent * wade.gent@lgbs.com * 972.932.8404 *  

 

 

 

 



 

 

Perdue Brandon Logo

Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott‚ LLP is a law firm focused on government collection matters. Since our founding in 1970 in Texas‚ we have grown steadily‚ adding clients‚ attorneys and trained support staff. Presently‚ we have 14 offices in Texas with more than 350 employees‚ including over 50 attorneys. Founded on the principles of hard work‚ honesty and ethical conduct‚ our success is due to our refusal to deviate from these core values.

Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott‚ LLP is one of the oldest and largest law firms in Texas focused on government collection matters. Since 1970‚ we have grown steadily‚ adding clients‚ attorneys and trained support staff.

Today‚ we represent many types of governmental entities – school districts‚ cities‚ counties‚ hospital districts‚ appraisal districts‚ special districts and toll road authorities. Our experienced attorneys and professional staff are capable of handling a wide variety of government collection issues‚ including but not limited to‚ delinquent tax matters and fine and fee collections.

We also advise many appraisal districts on property tax matters and represent them in litigation involving valuation‚ exemptions‚ special appraisal designations and other property tax issues. We represent school districts in appeals and audits of the Texas Comptroller’s property value study.

We have a proven collection track record. The Firm’s unique philosophy and personal approach to collection ensures consistent success. We strive to provide outstanding service. As a result‚ we have formed lasting relationships. Many of our client relationships span more than 40 years for one reason: we get results.

CONTACT: Carla Pope Osbourne * cpope-osbourne@pbfcm.com * 512.302.0190 *

 

 



Texas Telephone Association logo

Link to Texas Telephone Association Video of Service to Rural Texas

The Texas Telephone Association, with a diverse membership ranging from publicly traded corporations to small businesses and cooperatives, is dedicated to advancing and enhancing the telecommunications industry in Texas.

Our member companies drive economic development and innovation to benefit consumers, businesses, schools,

and healthcare facilities across Texas with reliable and affordable voice, data, and high-speed telecommunications services.

TTA companies are leading the way through innovations and hard work — making rural broadband and rural connectivity happen every day…

CONTACT: Mark Seale * mseale@tta.org (512) 472-1183*  

 

 

 

 

 



TTU K-12 (2)

Anytime – Anywhere

TTU K-12 is an award-winning online academic program established by the State of Texas in 1993. Since that time, we have successfully served more than 460,000 students from 71 countries around the world. We utilize innovative online technologies, rigorous and reputable curriculum, excellent state-certified teachers and quality customer service.

CONTACT: Scott Lucas *(800) 692-6877 * ttuk12@ttu.edu *

 



iTurity

Who we are:

  • iTurity is a mobile device repair company based in Austin, Texas.
  • We service and maintain mobile devices used in school districts and large enterprise, primarily iPads, Chromebooks, and phones/tablets of all varieties.
  • We are NOT a retail business: we are structured to process large quantities, fast.

Our Purpose:

  • To offer schools and businesses a fast, yet affordable means to keep their mobile device at 100% functionality.

Our Service:

  • iTurity offers both pay as you go, and protection plans to handle the repairs of your deployments devices.
  • We provide all of the packaging and shipping labels
  • Devices will be repaired and returned within 2-3 business days of reception.

Why choose iTurity?

  • Many other warranty–and out-of-warranty–companies provide mobile device repair services, BUT, with a higher cost and substantially longer turnaround.
  • We focus our resources on superior customer service and quality repairs.
  • We’re on your side: We strive to make client experience as easy and simple as possible.
  • Our dedicated team has been repairing mobile devices for over 21 years!

CONTACT: Karl Schmit * 512-762-1711 * karl@iturity.com  * 888.980.6624 * Sales@iTurity.com

 



Lowman Education

We come from a long line of teachers and administrators with years of experience in the classroom. We’ve made it our mission to make the lives of teachers easier because we believe that happy teachers are good teachers. Our educational materials are designed to be simple, effective, and easy to implement so educators can focus on educating and give more attention to their students. Paired with our practical method of instruction, the schools that use our materials see less teacher burnout, more engagement in the classroom, and dramatically improved scores on state testing.

CONTACT: Johnny Gomez * 214-427-7873 * johnny@lowmaneducation.com

 



Solar Connect

“SolarConnect can provide districts that have roof issues or roofs that will need to be upgraded or replaced in the future, a path to roll those cost into the installation of Solar on the buildings.  The solar arrays would provide the districts with a reduced power bill, a maintained solar array and roof for the next 20 years all this with NO capital outlay to the school district.  In a rural setting, SolarConnect can “bundle” several districts with Investors provide the best deal possible.”

Contact: Mike Bottoms * 469.536.2505 (m) * 870.942.5613 (o) * mike.bottoms@roofconnect.com



Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright maintains one of the largest full-service public finance practices in the nation, with four Texas offices anchoring this national presence (Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio). Representation of Texas independent school districts as Bond Counsel is a primary focus of the Texas public finance practice, where the Firm has served as Bond Counsel on more than 3,000 school district bond issuances totaling more than $60 billion in par amount.  Norton Rose Fulbright is one of very few firms that has the capability to represent a school district as a “one-stop-shop” in all bond counsel matters. Norton Rose Fulbright has committed significant time and resources to develop a broad and diverse team whose skill and breadth of experience is truly distinguished from our peers.  In Texas alone, Norton Rose Fulbright has more than 20 attorneys, 4 tax attorneys, and 10 paralegals dedicated to public finance.  Norton Rose Fulbright is honored to partner with TARS and offer our extensive experience to its members!

Matt Lee, Senior Associate * 512.536.2421 * matt.lee@nortonrosefulbright.com

Stephanie Leibe, Partner * 512.536.2420 * stephanie.leibe@nortonrosefulbright.com

98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Suite 1100, Austin, Texas  78701-4255, United States