Voters in the Thorndale ISD turned out last Wednesday for the first of five town hall-style informational meetings as the district prepares for a May 5 bond election.
Or three bond elections.
School trustees are proposing a “mix and match” style ballot in which voters can choose some, all or none of three options which total $12,940,000.
If all are approved Thorn-dale ISD would get a new high school, a new band hall, a resurfaced track and more parking.
There would also be major changes at current buildings including converting the current high school into a middle school.
The current middle school would be renovated for the fourth and fifth grades.
IMPACT—If all three propositions pass, the TISD tax rate would increase by 44.85 cents.
The tax rate would go up by lesser amounts if either, or both, of the other two options pass.
PROPOSALS—Here are the three options, according to Supt. Adam Ivy:
• Proposition A ($9,870,000)—New, two-story high school with 19 classrooms.
At elementary, new secure entry, office space renovation, new connecting corridor to cafeteria.
Convert current middle school into fourth and fi fthgrade building, renovate current offi ce space into special education classroom, three rooms become cafeteria seating.
Current high school becomes middle school. Library and offi ce space swap locations, renovation.
Renovate cafeteria and expand into adjacent boiler room.
New asphalt parking lot with 16 additional spaces.
Proposition B ($2,390,000)—Expand and renovate current band hall.
Complete renovation of current vocational ag/CTE Building.
Install heating/AC in middle school gym, remodel west end concessions, restrooms and more.
Enclose elementary pavilion, install heating/air conditioning.
• Proposition C ($680,000)—Resurface existing track.
Add parking lot with 50 spaces behind home bleachers.
Land purchase for future construction.
OPTIONS—According to the TISD, passage of A and B only would increase the tax rate by 41.77 cents, A-only by 31 cents, B-only by 7.42 cents and C-only by 2.62 cents. If only B and C pass the rate would go up 9.54 cents.
If A and C pass, the tax increase would be 34.09 cents.
Should all three pass, and the tax rate increase 44.85 cents the burden on a $100,000 home in the Thorndale ISD would increase by $336.36, according to the Thorndale ISD.
(That figure includes the impact of the districts $25,000 homestead exemption).
SECOND TRY—Last May, TISD voters rejected a $12.5-million bond package by a 229-168 margin. It would have raised the tax rate 43 cents.
Supt. Ivy noted that while the 2018 package contains many similar proposals it is the result of months of input from TISD residents following rejection of last year’s proposal.
“We wanted them to tell us what they didn’t like about it and we incorporated what we heard from them into this package,” Ivy said.
“One of the major things we heard is that voters wanted the chance to vote yes or no on some individual projects,” he said.
Ivy noted a major change between the 2017 and 2018 proposals is the absence of a new gym.
Last year an 830-capacity high school gym was part of the bond proposal.
“They also asked for more parking and the 2018 package has a net gain of about 66, 16 from A and 50 from C,” Ivy said.
MEETINGS—Future public meetings are as follows:
• Wednesday (March 21)—10 a.m. TISD Board Room.
• April 5—6 p.m. Thorn-dale High School Band Hall.
• April 17—10 a.m., TISD Board Room.
• April 23—6 p.m. TISD Ag Building.
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