Tyler

By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer

Tyler ISD trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved calling a $124.9 million bond election for Nov. 4.

The bond issue, which would replace six campuses, is a continuation of the school district's effort to address facility needs through a four-phase plan laid out in 2004. Voters approved a Phase 1 bond issue in 2004.

Under the proposal, Clarkston, Griffin, Jones, Orr and Woods elementary schools as well as the St. Louis School for students with special needs would be replaced.

"We have been working diligently for several months to try to pull together a plan for this next phase of our bond program," TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid told trustees Tuesday. "We are excited to be at this point today -- ready to bring forth our recommendation."

Board President Ron Vickery also called Tuesday an "exciting day."

"We've had a great four years in working through Phase 1 of our bond and being able to have the trust of the community � and reinvest in our children," Vickery said after the meeting. "This caps off a good six months of research into our needs for Phase 2. I think we have a great plan pulled together."

In making his motion to approve the calling of the bond election, Trustee Brad Spradlin said it was "with great pleasure and honor" and described it as "moving this district a step further in improving our facilities and being able to provide an excellent education."

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, and former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber attended Tuesday's meeting, throwing their support behind the bond proposal and announcing that they will again co-chair a "Vote Yes" committee in support of the bond issue as they did for the last bond election in 2004 that voters approved.

Eltife praised TISD for its work in the last bond election.

"I'm proud of what this board and this district has accomplished," Eltife said. "The schools that have been added (in the first bond issue) are very impressive. The neighborhoods they've been added in are so excited about having the new campuses in their neighborhoods -- and they were brought in on time and under budget. That's something as a community we should be proud of."

Seeber said, "It is a matter of trust."

"We've seen bond elections pass and bond elections fail in our community," Seeber said. "I think the consistent theme among those that succeed are that we make wise use of the tax dollars and that the government entity does what it says it's going to do. That's exactly what you did. The board is to be commended and the staff is to be commended for the way that the last bond election construction projects were executed."

Reid said after the meeting, "We feel like we're in the starting gate now and have the next few months to help the public understand the direction we're trying to go with this. We're thrilled that the board is supportive of the staff's recommendation to move forward with continuing to update our facilities."

According to Tyler ISD, the $124,877,000 million bond election cost includes construction hard cost with overhead and technology infrastructure and initial outfitting, inflation, professional fees, furniture fixtures and equipment, site utilities/road cost, demolition cost, asbestos abatement cost, transportation cost, swing space cost, land acquisition, bond development fees and construction contingency.

According to a presentation Reid made last week to the board, if the bond election were to pass, the maximum Interest and Sinking (I&S) (debt service) tax rate would peak in 2010 at 34.977 cents per $100 valuation -- an increase of about 16.447 cents to the tax rate. In 2011, if the district did not incur additional debt, the rate would drop back to 28.269 cents and continue dropping because of previous debt retiring.

No impact to the tax rate would occur in fiscal year 2009.

If the bond issue were to pass, an owner of a $135,000 home would pay a maximum tax increase of $197.36 in 2010.

Reid has said if voters approve the bond issue, the district would like to see as many of these schools open in the fall of 2010 as possible, but the acquisition of land and design challenges may require an extra year for some projects.

Officials are looking to possibly acquire land to build new Griffin and Jones elementary schools, as well as possibly a new St. Louis School. Acquiring land is needed in most cases because of space constraints on the current sites, Reid has said.

This bond election would address the second phase of a four-phase master facilities improvement plan.

Phase 1, a $95.9 million bond program voters approved in 2004, included construction of six replacement schools -- Bell, Ramey, Douglas, Austin, Bonner and Peete elementary schools -- and one new campus, Jack Elementary. Peete, the last to be completed, opened in January.

Phase 2, according to the original plan, would address needs at the remaining elementary schools, through replacing or remodeling buildings. The third phase called for addressing mainly middle schools; and the fourth, high schools.

In May, Reid presented information about the elementary schools left to address. The total cost for all the remaining elementary work, along with the St. Louis School, was about $189 million. But officials said they would not try to present a bond election for that much to voters at once.

Vickery has said the elementary schools not included on the list for Phase 2 will be reevaluated and addressed when the district comes back to consider its next bond program.

The district is looking at an accelerated timeline of construction because of the rising costs of construction and inflation.

Eltife and Seeber will co-chair a 'Vote Yes' committee as they did in support of the 2004 bond election.

Officials explained the law prohibits the school district administration or board members from advocating for or against a bond issue.

Eltife said after the meeting Tuesday that the committee will reach out to the entire community. He said they will take the next couple of weeks to get organized and get a campaign treasurer and spokesman in place.

"We will welcome anyone who wants to help us work to pass the bond issue," he said. "We will go out and do everything we can to educate the voters on why we feel it is important to pass this bond election.

"I think it's extremely important for the children in our community as well as for the economic development of our community that we have a public school system that provides quality education in quality facilities."

Eltife said he would urge "anyone and everyone to take a look at what their tax dollars were spent on in the last bond issue."

"Elementary schools have been rebuilt in neighborhoods across this community that have revitalized the neighborhood, have revitalized the neighborhood school atmosphere," he said. "I think it's a positive for the kids, the parents, the teachers and the economic vitality of this community."

Eltife also said, "I think TISD has been good stewards of our tax dollars with regard to the last bond proposal. The elementary schools that they have built have been extremely well received by the community. I hope if we earn the support of the voters we can continue upgrading our elementary campuses."

Former Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber (center) expresses his support for the bond on Tuesday. Seeber and State Sen. Kevin Eltife (left) will head up the “vote yes” committee for the proposed bond.
(Staff File Photo By Tom Turner)