Bond Election News

WARREN ISD POISED FOR GROWTH WITH $24 MILLION BOND PROPOSAL

Warren ISD Superintendent Mike Pate doesn't hesitate when he says that now is the "prime time" to ask the patrons of WISD for help in providing facilities improvements for his fast growing school district. Estimates are that the district will need to consider an overal $24 million bond to support the WISD student population, which has been growing at approximately 3 1/2% per year.

A Community Bond Advisory Committee made up of 19 members from across the district and headed by Dr. Barry Johnson have been meeting since March to determine exactly what the "footprint" of the new facilities and layout of the campus will be as offered by Phillip Long of Long Architects, of Beaumont.

The bond referendum which is expected in November will call for a new high school with a new agricultural building and a new band hall. The plans also call for renovations of the existing high school to be used as a Junior High and for the creation of new baseball and softball fields (with lights) to replace the existing ones along with concession stands, restrooms, a weight room, and dressing rooms for visiting teams and officials. "We want to make as many of the buildings as we can multipurpose," said Superintendent Pate.

Mr. Pate said he expected the bond to be sold in two issues. He predicted no more than a $.35 increase in tax rates which would allow for a basic "neutral" tax rate for the taxpayers of the district.

The project should be completed in three phases:

Phase I - Construction of a new high school

Phase II - Renovations to the current high school to become a junior high

Phase III - Renovations to Fred Elementary and Warren Elementary (this phase may be separated out into two different phases)

The bond committee members feel that the bond election will be beneficial to the overall educational program of the district. Several decisions were made concerning the overall structure of the school district.

First and of utmost importance, the committee is united in the fact that WISD should continue to maintain facilities in Fred and in Warren.

Second, the committee recommends that the 6th Grade be placed with the 7th and 8th Grades to form a junior high/middle school configuration.

Third, the committee recommends that upon completion of this project the Warren ISD will not be faced with additional facility needs. The committee suggests facilities that will maintain the relatively small student/teacher ratio, provide space for projected conservative growth, and be designed in such a way that any future expansions are logical without major renovations to the structures in place.

Fourth, the committee recommends that the board hire a marketimg firm to help inform the community of the necessary and proper facts prior to the election.