Posted 12:23 pm Thursday, November 04, 2010
Jacksonville ISD Readying Schools' Timelines
Bond To Fund 2 New Elementary Schools
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- In the wake of its first approved bond since the late 1990s, Jacksonville ISD is preparing to hash out project timelines and details.
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- In the wake of its first approved bond since the late 1990s, Jacksonville ISD is preparing to hash out project timelines and details.
Voters approved a $49.865 million bond with 2,175, or 56.49 percent, of votes for the issue and 1,675, or 43.51 percent, against it, according to complete but unofficial results.
The bond will fund new Joe Wright and East Side elementary schools.
It also would pay for other projects, such as building a new cafeteria and enlarging the library at Fred Douglass Elementary School, building a new cafeteria at Jacksonville High School and changing the cafeteria area for band use, adding an academic wing at the high school with eight science labs, building hallways at the high school to connect the main building, a new cafeteria and a cafeteria building.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell said because the bond issue passed, the district will start planning for projects.
He said it will get information together, such as topographical surveys of land for new buildings, and ask the facilities committee to prioritize projects.
Additionally, Wardell said, the district will look at a timeline for selling bonds and how that would affect the tax rate.
With this year's bond, the district is projecting a 19-cent increase to its total tax rate.
The 19-cent increase would be applied to the interest and sinking tax rate, bringing the total tax rate to $1.32 per $100 valuation.
For the average home in JISD, which is $87,681, this means a projected annual tax increase of $138.09, or $11.51 per month.
None of the 19-cent increase would be applied until 2011-12.
Wardell said he expects the tax impact to be lower, but a lot depends on the bond market.
"This board does not take this responsibility lightly at all," school board president James Houser said. "We will keep the public notified on what is going on. The community wanted this to happen, and it was perfect timing at that."
PAST BONDS
This bond election was the fourth attempt for the district in recent years. Other bond proposals failed in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Wardell said he believes several factors helped this year's bond pass -- endorsements from different groups, such as the city, Jacksonville Chamber of Com-merce and Jacksonville Economic Development Corp.; a facility group and political action committee that helped inform the public; and residents recognizing the academic success the district has achieved because of hard work.
That academic success in-cludes West Side and Fred Douglass elementary schools being named 2010 Blue Ribbon award winners and four campuses receiving the state's highest rating of exemplary this year.
Houser said he believes this bond election was different be-cause the public came to trustees about a possible bond election, and a committee of residents was instrumental in putting together a long-term plan and making sure voters understood district needs.
In some past elections, he said, some residents supported bond projects, but it was the school board that primarily initiated the election effort.
Houser said residents also supported this year's bond because "it was time for it to happen."
"I'm certainly happy and elated," he said. "We've gotten to this point. Now we're entrusted with $50 million that needs to be spent wisely." Jeff Horton, chairman of the pro-bond committee Vote Yes 4 Kids, said he also is pleased that the bond passed.
"I just think it's going to be good not only for the school but for the community …" he said. "I think Jacksonville is choosing to go forward and do what it needs to do and make the community positive."
He said committee members learned from past bond efforts and used that knowledge this time around.
He said the group was up-front and honest with residents and tried to be transparent in talking about financing the bond and why it needed to be financed a particular way.
"If people had a question, we'd go to them personally and sit down with them and try to answer it," Horton said. "If they wanted to speak to a board member, we would have them talk to them."
Overall, he said, he believes the community realized it was time to address facility needs.
"Our sports have always been good …" he said. "Now also academically we've got a proven track record. If we're asking our teachers to raise the bar for our kids academically and athletically, I think the community is here to say, 'We support (you).' I just think the community realized it's time for us to move forward and (show) that the community of Jacksonville has a vested interest in the students and cares about them."
WHAT IT MEANS
While many residents and administrators are pleased with the bond's passage, so are campus principals.
Joe Wright Principal Brad Stewart said the school is excited about what the bond means for its faculty and students.
Part of the school was built in the 1930s, and core facilities, such as restrooms, originally were designed for about 250 students, he said. The campus now houses 500 students.
Stewart said he is excited that Joe Wright will get a new facility and hopes that it's geared toward the future with technology.
He said he also would like updated core areas, a facility that can house all students without portable buildings, and one that is "safe and very conductive to learning."
"Students seem to be excited, (and) several students have asked when we're getting a new school," Stewart said. "We're very pleased that the voters have allowed us to do this, and we think it will have a positive impact of Jacksonville."
East Side Principal Chuck Lowery agreed and said he thinks the bond's passage is a great thing for the community and its children.
He said teaching can take place anywhere, but it is thrilling to move forward and send students the message that their education matters.
The main East Side building was built in 1939.
So Lowery said the school is limited in what it can do as far as putting on school programs for parents.
So Lowery said the school is limited in what it can do as far as putting on school programs for parents.
The school also has a wonderful music program, he said. However, it cannot seat all 677 students.
Lowery said students often have to walk in between buildings throughout the day.
"Having all of that under one roof is a great move in the right direction for making the campus safer," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the district move ahead."
While other schools may not be getting all-new buildings, they are excited about campus updates.
Fred Douglass Principal Am-ber Penn said she is thrilled about plans to extend her school's cafeteria.
Lunch now starts at 10:05 a.m. and ends at 1:10 p.m. in order to accommodate all students, she said, so the new cafeteria will make a big difference in how the campus handles lunch procedures.
"We have a really nice building and the much needed extension will benefit teachers, students and staff," she said.
Jacksonville High School Prin-cipal Tammy Jones said she looks forward to new academic rooms.
"We're thrilled for the opportunity that this is going to present for our high school; our new band facilities that we will have, our new cafeteria and our new science classrooms," she said. "We're just excited, and it's a great time to be part of this process for our entire district not just our campus."
