School Board Calls May Bond Election
Proposition Addresses Aging Facilities and Evolving Learning Environments
The White Oak ISD Board of Trustees voted to accept the Facilities Planning Committee’s recommendation to call for a $19,005,000 bond package addressing the district’s aging facilities and adapting to evolving learning environments.
Development of the bond proposal involved an in-depth process of information gathering, research, deliberation and community input. Over the past year, a district-wide facilities assessment was completed, and in October 2016, the Facilities Planning Committee (FPC) was formed.
The FPC was comprised of individuals from the community who represent the diversity and multifaceted interests within White Oak ISD, including parents, grandparents and non-parents, teachers and district staff, community leaders, business owners and more. On February 6, the committee made its recommendation to the Board of Trustees to call for a bond election. All presentations and meeting notes can be found at www.WhiteOakISDFPC.com.
The proposed projects include:
- Roofing replacement at all campuses
- Water intrusion repair (Window replacement at Primary & Intermediate campus)
- Air Handler replacement at the Primary & Intermediate and Middle School campuses
- Refunding of existing debt used for energy efficiency projects
- Middle School science lab renovations and elevator addition
- New Field House
- New High School science lab wing addition and repurposing of existing science classrooms
In addition to the projects included in the May 2017 bond package, the FPC also prioritized the remaining projects into a Long Range Plan to guide the district in the future. More information regarding the proposed bond package and a list of items in the Long Range Plan will be added to the district’s website: www.WOISD.net.
If approved, the estimated maximum tax impact of the total bond proposal is anticipated to be 37.8 cents for a total tax rate of $1.6255. WOISD property taxes for citizens age 65 or older would not be affected by the bond election as long as a homestead and over 65-exemption application have been filed with the local appraisal district and no significant improvements are made to the homestead.
White Oak ISD residents will have the opportunity to vote on the bond referendum beginning with Early Voting on April 24-May 2 and Election Day, Saturday, May 6.