Posted 12:55 am Sunday, September 09, 2012
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TISD trustees to discuss future bonds, possible sale of campuses
By Emily Guevara
eguevara@tylerpaper.com
The possible sale of two unused Tyler ISD campuses and a future bond election are topics scheduled for discussion during Monday’s board workshop.
eguevara@tylerpaper.com
The possible sale of two unused Tyler ISD campuses and a future bond election are topics scheduled for discussion during Monday’s board workshop.
The TISD board of trustees is scheduled to discuss the possible sale of the old Griffin Elementary School and the old Jones Elementary MST Academy. Both campuses were replaced with new schools as part of the 2008 bond package.
Board President Michelle Carr said trustees will decide whether to move forward with the sale of the old properties.
If trustees decide to move forward with a possible sale, the board would have community meetings about the issue, Mrs. Carr said.
The campuses are among nine district buildings slated to be repurposed, taken out of use or sold as part of the long-range plan.
District spokeswoman Laura Jackson said one of the reasons the district is considering the future of those properties first is because they’re not in use now.
Mrs. Carr said trustees will weigh the cost of keeping the buildings against the possible need for those buildings in the future.
School district attorney John Hardy said because the district remains under a federal desegregation order, it has to notify the federal court and U.S. Department of Justice about any potential sale.
In other business, trustees will hear from the district’s financial advisers about tax rates that could support various bond package scenarios.
Trustees decided last month not to call a November bond election. However, they said they would consider a May bond election.
If trustees decide to move forward with a possible sale, the board would have community meetings about the issue, Mrs. Carr said.
The campuses are among nine district buildings slated to be repurposed, taken out of use or sold as part of the long-range plan.
District spokeswoman Laura Jackson said one of the reasons the district is considering the future of those properties first is because they’re not in use now.
Mrs. Carr said trustees will weigh the cost of keeping the buildings against the possible need for those buildings in the future.
School district attorney John Hardy said because the district remains under a federal desegregation order, it has to notify the federal court and U.S. Department of Justice about any potential sale.
In other business, trustees will hear from the district’s financial advisers about tax rates that could support various bond package scenarios.
Trustees decided last month not to call a November bond election. However, they said they would consider a May bond election.
TISD can support up to a $150 million bond package with the current tax rate of $1.375 per $100 valuation.
However, if the board opts to include the high schools in the first package — something that some community members have supported — the district would have to exceed the $150 million limit.
That’s because TISD plans to build a technology and career center before or at the same time as the high school work is completed.
Mrs. Carr said trustees want to get an idea of how much potential bond packages would cost taxpayers.
“This workshop is intended to move us down the road in making our decision about what package it is we have board support for,” she said.
If trustees want to call a May 2013 bond election, the board must vote by February.
Mrs. Carr said trustees will work to define the package in the next few months.
The 4:30 p.m. Monday meeting is scheduled in the Dr. Jack L. Davidson Conference Center in the Jim Plyler Instructional Complex, 807 W. Glenwood Blvd.
However, if the board opts to include the high schools in the first package — something that some community members have supported — the district would have to exceed the $150 million limit.
That’s because TISD plans to build a technology and career center before or at the same time as the high school work is completed.
Mrs. Carr said trustees want to get an idea of how much potential bond packages would cost taxpayers.
“This workshop is intended to move us down the road in making our decision about what package it is we have board support for,” she said.
If trustees want to call a May 2013 bond election, the board must vote by February.
Mrs. Carr said trustees will work to define the package in the next few months.
The 4:30 p.m. Monday meeting is scheduled in the Dr. Jack L. Davidson Conference Center in the Jim Plyler Instructional Complex, 807 W. Glenwood Blvd.
