HENDERSON (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Henderson ISD could get a new middle school if voters approve an upcoming bond issue.
Trustees unanimously called a bond election for
the facility Monday afternoon, prompting applause from audience
members. Board members did not comment before a vote was taken.
The
$27 million bond would fund a new middle school on the site of the
current facility. The district plans to incorporate three older middle
school buildings, including the band hall and sixth-grade wing, into a
new campus.
Three people spoke in favor of the bond during Monday's meeting.
Longtime
resident Kenneth Orr said a new middle school is needed, and he
believes it's a great time to build right now because of low interest
rates and commercial building contractors are looking for work.
He said he also believes the project would bring money into town during construction.
It's "a no-brainer we proceed with this right now," Orr said.
Kacy
Kersh, with the Wylie Primary School Parent-Teacher Organization, said
she's excited for the bond proposal and has received positive feedback.
"We're
eager to share our excitement with our parents and our community," she
said, adding after the vote, "Everybody's just really excited. ... It's
time."
Jennifer Ellis, with the
Wylie Elementary School PTO, said people at the elementary school also
are thrilled about the proposal, and there is a group that indicated
they would volunteer to help with the election.
She
also said the elementary children likely will be the first children to
enjoy the new middle school, and it will be a safer facility.
The bond election is scheduled for May 11.
If
the issue passed, there would be about a 9-cent tax rate increase for
district residents. That means someone with a $100,000 home in the
district would pay an additional $4.88 per month.
As
far as looks, Superintendent Keith Boles has said the new school would
be one story, and students would no longer have to go outside in between
classes because everything would be under one roof.
Safety
is a big concern at Henderson Middle School because there are nine
separate buildings and more than 40 entrances, Stacey Sullivan, director
of human resources and communication, has said.
The
age of the building also is a concern, she said earlier this month,
citing foundation issues, two classrooms that no longer are deemed safe
and less than adequate technology infrastructure.
She
said Henderson High School has advanced technology as well as a Bring
Your Own Device program, which allows students to use electronic
devices, such as tablets, cellphones and laptops in classrooms with
teacher permission. However, the district cannot do the same at the
current middle school, Ms. Sullivan said earlier this month.
She
also has said classroom sizes at the middle school are not in line with
Texas Education Agency standards, and the school is not Americans with
Disabilities Act compliant.
If the
bond passed, the district would have community and staff committees
that would meet with the architect and help with the middle school's
design, Boles has said.
This is the third time that a new middle school has gone before the public.
In 2011, voters narrowly defeated a $26 million bond that would have funded a middle school.
Before
that bond, a $39.2 million bond failed in November 2010 that would have
funded a middle school, renovations and additions at Northside
Intermediate School, an auditorium at Henderson High School and
artificial turf at Lions Stadium.
This
time around, Boles said he believes there is already great enthusiasm
for the bond, given that there was a 7-0 vote from the board and
solidarity from others.
"We got so close last time. We just (have) to get the message out about the needs (and district growth)," he said.
Boles
said the current middle school is full and houses 770 students in
sixth, seventh and eighth grades. In kindergarten, first and second
grades, Henderson ISD has an estimated 900 students. Boles said core
classes at the new middle school would have a capacity for about 975.
The new middle school is slated to take two years, potentially making it ready for students in August 2015.
