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Growing Graford:ISD Leaders Educating Community About New Bond Package
By Amy Bearden
Mineral Wells Are News
Graford ISD leaders are taking time to educate local residents about the new bond package voters will see on their ballot sheets when they go to the polls this May.
The District hosted a Town Hall in Graford and Superintendent Brandon Perry has spoken at several local organizational meetings to help the community better understand the school’s needs.
“The May 2024 School Bond is set at $59,950,000, a notable reduction from the previously proposed November bond of $85,000,000. This decision was informed by invaluable feedback from our stakeholders, whose input was integral to shaping the revised proposal,” wrote Perry.
He said scaling back the bond amount helps to better align the needs and expectations of the community while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
“It’s important to note that GISD is continuing to grow by 3% each year and is projected to see growth for the foreseeable future. This growth underscores the necessity of responsible investment in our educational infrastructure to accommodate the needs of our expanding student population,” stated Perry.
One of the significant outcomes of this adjustment is the projected impact on taxpayers.
“Unlike the November 2023 bond, which carried a maximum tax increase of 15 pennies, the May 2024 bond is anticipated to result in a far more modest maximum tax increase of only 3 pennies. This reduction underscores our commitment to balancing the necessity of funding with the financial well-being of our residents,” elaborated the Superintendent.
“We remain dedicated to transparent communication and collaborative decision-making throughout this process. As we move forward, we will continue to engage with our stakeholders to address any concerns and uphold the best interests of our community.”
The bond package is just shy of $60 million and will help fund the construction of a new secondary school, provide activity busses for student activities and all for the renovation of the Ag building.
New Secondary Campus with Multipurpose Gymnasium:The bond seeks to establish a new Secondary Campus serving grades 6-12, providing space for future expansion of Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs and accommodating potential fine arts offerings like theater, choir, and band. The gymnasium will be a versatile space within the new Secondary Campus; the multipurpose gymnasium will not only host athletic events but also serve as a venue for community gatherings, cultural activities, and academic events. The New Secondary campus will also include a cafetorium with a full-size performance stage to host community events, award ceremonies, theater, choir, and future band performances.
Renovation of AG Building: Renovations to the current Robert L. Ray Agriculture (AG) Building will transform it into the new GISD Animal Barn and Show arena, supporting agricultural education and hands-on learning experiences.
New Activity Buses: The acquisition of new activity buses will improve transportation for extracurricular activities and enhance access to educational opportunities for all students.
Early voting for the 2024 Graford ISD Bond Package begins April 22nd and Election Day is Saturday May 4th.
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Is there a breakdown of money on each item for the bond? Also why are they going to buy vehicles on a bond financed for 20-30 years? The vehicles will long be worn out and out of use before they are paid for.