THORNDALE—Voters in the Thorndale ISD will go to the polls May 5 to decide whether they want to build a new high school, enlarge the band hall and expand and reorganize other school facilities.
On Thursday, trustees called the bond election, listing three separate proposals, totaling $12,940,000.
Figures provide by Supt. Adam Ivy indicated if all three proposals (A, B and C) pass the district’s tax rate would go up 47.32 cents and the tax burden on a $100,000 home (with a homestead exemption) would increase by $354.90.
SECOND YEAR—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.
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.
PROPOSITIONS—And that’s being offered May 5.
Proposition A, $9,870,000 would construct a new two-story, high school on the current school complex site, what’s now a parking lot south of the current middle school.
Under Proposition A the middle school would be converted to serve fourth and fifth grades and three rooms would become cafeteria seating after the current cafeteria is renovated and expanded.
The current high school building would become the middle school.
There are a number of other projects in Proposition A.
Proposition B carries a price tag of $2,390,000. It would include renovation of the existing band hall and expanding it by another 1,500 square feet.
In also includes installing central heat/air (HVAC) in the middle school gym and renovating that building to include a concession stand.
The current vocational agriculture building would also be renovated and the elementary pavilion would be covered and HVAC added.
Proposition C has a $680,000 price tag.
It includes resurfacing the TISD track, a new 50-space parking lot and reserves $250,000 to purchase land for future construction.
According to the TISD, passage of A and B only would increase the tax rate by 43.52 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 10.04 cents.
DIFFERENCES—
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.
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