TISD Trustees To Meet On Phase 2 Bond Election
By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Tyler ISD trustees will meet for a study session on the possible Phase 2 bond issue in two weeks to discuss the scope and capacity of the bond election.
Staff Writer
Tyler ISD trustees will meet for a study session on the possible Phase 2 bond issue in two weeks to discuss the scope and capacity of the bond election.
"We need to have some discussions and get some direction from the board in terms of where they'd like to go," Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid told trustees during Thursday's board meeting.
A community bond planning committee meeting previously slated for Thursday was postponed because of information that the district was late in getting, Reid said.
The district has received preliminary information from The Facility Group, its pre-bond services firm, which shows the original cost estimate of projects laid out in Phase 2 in the district's facilities master plan from four years ago has significantly increased, Reid said after the meeting.
Reid said that is because of rapidly rising construction costs and inflation.
He said the number in the original plan, "won't come close to resolving the needs that we have."
"Now we're having to go back and take a second look at it," he said.
These bond capacity issues are what they plan to discuss at the study session, he said. The Facility Group and the district's financial adviser will also be at that study session.
"Those were some pretty shocking numbers we got," Reid said. "I think the board needs time to digest some of that and help me make decisions about how best to utilize the bond committee or how best to go about getting community input in terms of helping us decide on our direction."
TISD has essentially completed Phase 1 of a 12-year, four-phase master facilities improvement plan developed several years ago.
The first phase consisted of a $95.9 million bond program voters approved in 2004 and included the construction of six replacement schools - Bell, Ramey, Douglas, Austin, Bonner and Peete elementaries - and one new campus, Jack Elementary. Peete Elementary was the last of those projects to be completed. It opened to students in January.
Although no bond election has been called, November seems to be the district's targeted date for an election.
Phase II, according to the original plan, would address facility needs at the 10 other elementary schools - Jones, Woods, Orr, Clarkston, Griffin, Dixie, Rice, Owens, Birdwell and Caldwell.
Officials have said that plan is possibly subject to change.
UPDATES & REPORTS
Trustees on Thursday also heard a report on a salary study for counselors. The district has struggled to recruit and retain counselors, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels, officials said.
Trustees on Thursday also heard a report on a salary study for counselors. The district has struggled to recruit and retain counselors, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels, officials said.
According to TISD information, consultants determined that elementary counselors' beginning and average salaries in TISD are 88 percent of the market.
Reid said it's likely the district will propose a pay adjustment for counselors, particularly elementary counselors, in addition to whatever raise all positions might receive when the board considers the budget later this year, to get those positions to 95 percent of the market.
Sharon Roy, director of human resources, said at the meeting that they wanted the word out about that possibility so the district can retain the counselors they have.
Trustees also heard an update on the special education program. In January, the board heard a review of the special education program, which pointed out that TISD trails other districts in restructuring its program and offered several recommendations.
On Thursday, trustees saw a timeline of how the restructuring process will be conducted. It showed that through April 4, interviews for a new director would take place; on April 7, planning with a consultant will take place; and April 30 there would be the completion of the restructuring plan. In May, there will be a report and implementation of the plan.
The board also heard an update on the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. AVID began in 2005 at John Tyler and has expanded to middle schools. AVID is an elective class and a school-wide initiative that prepares students who are in the "academic middle" for colleges and universities.
AVID seniors had a 99.3 percent graduation rate, compared to the state rate of 84.6 percent, according a presentation given Thursday.
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