The plan was developed with extensive community input from a diverse group of citizens from all parts of the District. A committee of more than 50 community and business leaders began work in February 2022 to evaluate the facilities issues of BISD. During the course of their meetings, they studied facilities issues and deficiencies, student enrollment, demographics reports, and financial reports before making a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Birdville ISD voters are being asked to consider a bond proposal for the November 8, 2022 ballot totaling $359.8 million. The board of trustees unanimously called for the bond following the recommendation of the 2022 Bond Planning Committee. The final proposal addresses additional safety and security enhancements, renovations/repairs and upgrades to current facilities, combining two campuses into one (partner school), rebuilding a campus, buses, technology upgrades districtwide, and adding indoor multipurpose activity centers at all three high schools.
Under the proposal, all campuses in the District will receive additional safety and security measures and technology.
BOND Highlights
Safety and Security
Additional exterior security lighting
Upgrade aging security cameras/door access systems
Fire Alarm system replacement at various campuses
Elevator upgrades at various locations
Rebuilds*
Alliene Mullendore Elementary
Built in 1955
Eliminates 10 portable classrooms
Provides additional classroom and support space
Total estimated cost to complete deferred maintenance projects for the building is more than 83 percent of what it would cost to rebuild the campus
Build Partner Elementary School (Smith/Francisco)
David E. Smith Elementary
Built in 1954
Eliminates eight portable classrooms
Total estimated cost to complete deferred maintenance projects for the building is more than 63 percent of what it would cost to rebuild the campus
W.T. Francisco Elementary
Opened in 1959
Eliminates eight portable classrooms
Total estimated cost to complete deferred maintenance projects for the building is more than 47 percent of what it would cost to rebuild the campus
*Safety and Security enhancements included for each of these facilities.
Property Purchase/Renovations
Purchase of and renovations to Denton Highway property for new Shannon High School/Special Education programs*
Enclose the Haltom High School courtyard to expand cafeteria and provide an additional entrance into library
Add additional classrooms at Haltom High for Dance and Cheer
Update 30+-year-old seating in the Haltom High auditorium
Press boxes at all high school football, baseball and softball fields
Artificial turf at all high school baseball and softball fields
Repairs/Upgrades Issues at All Facilities Not Being Rebuilt
Repair drainage issues in the Birdville High courtyard
Address structural issues in and around the North Ridge Elementary courtyard
HVAC and electrical upgrades
Roofing replacements
Address plumbing, painting and flooring issues at various District locations
Transportation
Buses
Technology
Replacement of obsolete equipment
Maintain replacement cycles for:
Current 1:1 student-to-technology ratio; and
Teacher/staff technology
Indoor Multipurpose Activity Centersat all three high schools
Beginning with the May 2020 election cycle, Education Code §45.003(g) requires that certain “special purpose” categories of improvements be included in separate, standalone propositions:
Stadiums with seating capacity for 1,000 or more;
Natatoriums;
Recreational facility “other than a gym, playground, or play area”;
Performing arts facility; and
Technology other than that used for school security purposes or technology infrastructure integral to the construction of a facility.
If the bond package passes, BISD’s board of trustees will once again form a citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee to oversee the bond to ensure everything in the proposal is completed and within budget.
The final reports of the 2006, 2014 and 2018 Bond Oversight Committees said, “In summary, the Oversight Committee commends the Birdville Board, administration, and staff for completing all projects promised to the voters of BISD, on time and within resources available for construction projects … .”
In 2014 and 2018, the Committee stood before this Board and said, “Technology is here to stay, and all BISD students must have the ability to use, and learn from, current technology. Our students must be ready to compete in today’s world.”
The technology plan will be rolled out over several years with a focus on continuing to address equity across the District. The plan:
replaces obsolete equipment;
provides for student/classroom technology upgrades;
maintains replacement cycles for:
current 1:1 student-to-technology ratio across the District; and
provides teacher/staff technology upgrades.
The plan allows for flexibility in selecting devices as technology continues to change. Technology bonds are paid off in five years.
BISD must continue to look for ways to provide a safe and secure environment for our students and staff.
The 2014 and 2018 Bonds did so much to address safety and security by adding safety vestibules, additional cameras, card access doors and fencing around our portable classrooms and playgrounds.
However, our proposal continues to address additional safety issues that the Committee considers important for the continued protection of students and staff, including:
adding additional card access doors and/or upgrading aging technology on current card access doors/door access systems,
adding additional HD video security cameras and replacing aging cameras,
adding additional exterior security lighting,
fire alarm system replacement at various campuses, and
The 2021–22 enrollment for Smith was 391 students and Francisco was 365. After much discussion, the Committee agreed to propose a Partner school because of the high cost of operating two small schools in BISD. The Committee was presented with an option that would locate the new campus on the current Smith Elementary site because the property is larger. By building this Partner school (a combined campus), the District eliminates 16 portable classrooms and potentially saves up to $1 million in operational costs each year.
Voters approved a new partner school for Richland and Major Cheney elementary schools as part of the 2018 Bond. The new partner school, Cheney Hills Elementary, opened in August 2021.
The old David E. Smith Elementary campus would be torn down and the new partner school will be built on that site. BISD will work with the city and community leaders to determine the best use of the other property.
No. Just because the campuses are coming together doesn’t mean the students go away. Teachers from both campuses will be merged together as one team to serve the new campus. No teachers or administrators will lose their employment in the District because of the proposal.
The efficient management of BISD’s existing bond debt over the last ten years has allowed the District to refinance more than $142.2 million of its outstanding bonds at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers $18.4 million in future interest costs. The District has also prepaid approximately $29 million of its bonds prior to scheduled maturity, saving an additional $20.2 million in future interest payments for taxpayers. BISD will continue to carefully monitor its bond debt and related interest rates in an effort to save taxpayers additional dollars in the future.
The District repays its bonds on an annual basis over a period of 25 years or less, while structuring its annual bond payments to decline over time creating additional bonding capacity for future bond proposals. Furthermore, the District repays its bonds based upon the useful life of the assets for which the District is financing. As an example, BISD repays bonds issued for new school buildings over a 25-year period, but repays bonds issued for technology and other short-term assets over a period of three to 10 years.
Birdville ISD will have the ability to sell these additional bonds with NOschool tax rate increase due to bond prepayments and the refinancing of current bonds at lower interest rates.
Yes, bonds may be repaid prior to final maturity. While the majority of the bonds from the District’s proposed 2022 bond election will initially be structured with annual principal payments over 25 years, Birdville ISD will retain the flexibility to prepay these bonds prior to their scheduled maturity, without penalty. In fact, since 2014, the District has repaid $29 million of its existing bonds prior to final maturity, saving taxpayers $20.2 million in future interest payments.
On November 8, 2022, the District’s current principal balance on bonded debt will be approximately $409 million from bond elections in 2006, 2014 and 2018. Total debt including interest is $568 million. Each year, the District pays off a portion of its existing bonds. All bond obligations from 1986, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 2005 have been paid. All current BISD bonds are scheduled to be paid off by 2044 with almost one-half being paid off by 2030.
BISD is purchasing the property at 4051 Denton Highway (formerly The Wisdom Center building) in Haltom City for a new Shannon High School/select Special Education programs.
The law provides that a school district must hold an election and get permission from voters to sell bonds and to levy taxes to pay for them. Bonds are sold to provide funding for capital improvements that last for a number of years. Such investments are too large to be included in operating budgets. Just as an individual agrees to repay a new home loan, voters authorize the District to sell and repay bonds for making major capital improvements. School boards may only levy taxes in the amount necessary to repay the bonds.
Bond money can be used for new schools and facilities, expansion and renovations of existing facilities, furniture, technology, equipment, buses and other support vehicles, and new school sites.
Bond money may not be used for personnel, raises, utilities, and other such operating expenses. Bonds may only be used for capital improvements and related costs.
If a bond referendum is approved by voters, bonds are sold to investors.
Proceeds are used for approved capital projects.
Each year, the school board must set a tax rate in two parts: one to cover the operating costs (payroll, supplies and equipment, insurance, utilities, etc.) and the other to pay principal and interest due on voter-approved bonds.
The District may only collect what is necessary to repay the debt.
If voters approve the bond referendum in November 2022, work would begin immediately to design and develop a schedule of when work on individual campuses will take place. With the amount of work to be done, it is anticipated it will take 36 to 48 months to complete all the projects. Most renovations will take place during summer months when no students or staff are on campus. However, when it is necessary to do work during the school year, it will be scheduled to have the least impact on the education process and to assure student and staff safety. Also, all construction workers must have criminal background checks before they may work on any school site.
For Mullendore Elementary and the Smith/Francisco Partner elementary school, it can take 24 to 36 months to complete design work and build the new facilities.
The Texas Constitution provides homeowners an “Over 65” property tax exemption when they turn 65. Upon qualification for the exemption, a homeowner may file an application with the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). Once the exemption is granted, the homeowner property taxes will not increase above what they were the year the homeowner turned 65.
For further information, you may contact the TAD at 817-284-0024 or on the web at www.tad.org .
The Bond Planning Committee overwhelmingly supports the District developing a long-range plan.
The slide below represents what this might look like. This is only a concept, and the Board and Administration will spend more time developing a final plan for BISD. It will be a dynamic document that will need to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and it does not guarantee specific campuses a place in future campaigns. However, it does give the District a road map of future issues.
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In 2014, BISD developed a long-range plan for future bond campaigns. The graphic shows the four-year cycle of planning, elections and construction. The bottom of this graphic shows a sampling of projects being considered in the 2022 bond. They include possible replacement campuses (Francisco, Smith, and Mullendore elementary schools); additions and renovations (facility repairs, safety and security, and technology infrastructure); and equipment and other assets (transportation, technology equipment, and land purchases).
At the end of the day, the Committee agreed to include this campus because there was not a good plan for this school other than rebuilding.
The cost to bring Mullendore up to current building and TEA standards exceeds 83 percent of the cost to completely rebuild the facility.
By rebuilding this campus, the District eliminates 10 portable classrooms.
Partner school for David E. Smith and W.T. Francisco elementary schools
The 2021–22 enrollment for Smith was 391 students and Francisco was 365.
After much discussion, the Committee agreed to propose a Partner school because of the high cost of operating two small schools in BISD.
The Committee was presented with an option that would locate the new campus on the current Smith Elementary site because the property is larger.
By building this Partner school (a combined campus), the District eliminates 16 portable classrooms and potentially saves up to $1 million in operational costs each year.
Yes. Every campus is impacted by this bond proposal. This proposal includes safety and security and technology on every campus. In addition, students currently in elementary and middle schools will be impacted from work done at their feeder schools.
BISD was awarded two Transparency Stars by the Texas Comptroller for opening our financial books not only for our traditional finances, but also in our debt obligations. #BISDBond22
(Transparency Stars: Recognizing Local Transparency Achievements: Traditional Finances and Debt Obligations.)
Birdville ISD is also proud to be recognized by The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) with a 2022 Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations. The Award of Merit was established in 2009 to recognize Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education service centers that are committed to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services.
Birdville ISD’s bond referendum will not increase the property tax rate for homeowners or businesses. However, a new state law requires all school bond referendum propositions to include ballot language that reads “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” Passage of the bond package will not result in an increase in the property tax rate, despite the ballot language stating that there will be a tax increase.
