Allen ISD: 2020 Bond Election

Maintaining our district’s legacy of excellence starts with the

input of residents across our community. That’s why the Allen

ISD School Board and administrators worked with Project Kids,

an 80-member committee, to help us address aging facilities and

create a future-focused plan for students throughout the district.

Comprised of residents from every part of Allen ISD – parents,

grandparents, teachers and business owners – Project Kids

spent months analyzing and researching district

finances, educational programs, current facilities, necessary

capital upgrades, campus security and basic maintenance.

The result of their hard work was the collaborative development

of a $222 million bond package that impacts every student and

teacher in every part of the district. Our School Board voted

unanimously to accept their recommendation and placed the

bond proposition on the November ballot.

This is important – if approved by Allen ISD voters, homeowners

will see no increase in their property tax rate. The bonds will be

funded with the anticipated property value growth in the district.

In fact, the Allen ISD property tax rate will be 23.75 cents lower than

seven years ago.

I hope you will take a moment to review the facts about the bond

referendum election in this newsletter, and please remember to

vote on November 3rd.

Sincerely,

Robin Bullock

Superintendent of Schools

Looking for more information on the 2020 bond election? We are hosting a Zoom webinar pertaining to Safety and Security, Transportation, and Technology. There will be time for questions. The meeting is on Wednesday, September 30, from 6-7 p.m.

Registration is required. Sign up now at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSediPdJ_yBrAsfX9IrjF_d9HpjDfBYGvoHexps721xbPPYgMQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1FHHvLngiZKMZ2Etgga7qNKpjau5frLeFKu3hbCbfCS46x1p9HDPgDh5A

Proposition A will handle several projects, including:

• Student and teacher security will be enhanced with additional and upgraded cameras and improvements to existing safety glass for reinforcement.
  
• Bonds will also pay for basic repairs and replacements for concrete, roofing, flooring, electrical, heating and cooling.
  
• Aging schools like Boon, Chandler and Evans Elementary Schools, Ereckson Middle School and Allen High School will receive extensive maintenance and upgrades, as well as new flexible learning spaces comparable to those of newer Allen ISD campuses. Many of the campus updates will improve efficiencies to reduce operational and mechanical costs.
  
• Twenty-five new buses will also be purchased to replace aging vehicles that have outlived their lifespan and handle increasing ridership numbers.
  
• In response to growing student participation in our award-winning extracurricular programs and in-demand job training offerings, the district will update the Fine Arts wing and Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing at Allen High School.

Proposition B is focused on athletic updates, including:

• Resurface the tracks at Lowery Freshman Center and the AHS Track Stadium. These tracks are nearing the end of their life expectancy.
• Replace turf at Curtis Middle School, Lowery, the AHS Track Stadium, and Eagle Stadium.
• Bond money will also be used to add a track and turf field at Ford Middle School, the only middle school in the district that currently does not have a track and turf facility. Currently, Ford students must travel to another campus to hold track practice.

Proposition C would fund maintenance and repairs for district tennis courts located at Allen High School. The courts were originally built in 2001. Updates would include resurfacing courts, civil work and added storage. The courts are used by both students and community members.

Proposition D would provide wireless devices (laptops, Chromebooks, tablets) to both our students and staff as learning increasingly becomes more mobile. The proposition would also fund desktop computers and printer devices. It is important to note that bonds for technology devices are sold to match the expected lifespan of the devices.

Early voting begins earlier than normal this year, starting on Tuesday, October 13, and running through Friday, October 30. Registered voters can cast their vote at the following locations and times:

• Allen Event Center (Concourse): 200 E Stacy Road
  
• Allen ISD Service Center (Lobby): 1451 N Watters Road
  

Election Day is November 3, and polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Collin County has asked Allen ISD to provide additional spaces for citizens to vote this year. The following locations, in addition to the AISD Service Center and the Allen Event Center, will be available on November 3rd:

• Chandler Elementary School (Gym): 1000 Water Oak Drive
  
• Curtis Middle School (Auxiliary Gym): 1530 Rivercrest Boulevard
  
• Ereckson Middle School (Library): 450 Tatum Drive
  
• Evans Elementary School (Gym): 1225 Walnut Springs Drive
  
• Ford Middle School (Auxiliary Gym): 630 Park Place Drive
  
• Preston Elementary School (Gym): 2455 Hilliard Drive
  

In accordance with new state law, all school ballot propositions must include the following statement: "This is a property tax increase" regardless if there is no expected increase to the school district tax rate. Voters will see this language on all propositions; however, the AISD tax rate is not expected to increase as a result of the bond election.

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Based upon the current taxable values of the district and conservative growth assumptions, it is expected that the I&S rate will remain at $0.41 following the election, regardless of outcome.

Looking for more information on the 2020 bond election? Visit www.allenisdbond.org for detailed information on bond projects and the financial impact. The webpage also includes specific information on how the bond proposal will impact individual campuses.

More than $600 million of new properties, both commercial and residential, are expected to be added to the tax rolls this year allowing the AISD Board to maintain the current tax rate while adding a new bond proposal and paying down the principal on existing bonds. Based on current projections, the District would not need to increase the tax rate regardless of the outcome of this bond election.

Additionally, the Allen ISD Board of Trustees has been aggressive in refinancing existing bonds when possible. This action by the School Board has saved Allen ISD taxpayers nearly $80 million in only a 10-year span. See the chart below for more details.

These actions have allowed the District to retain the current tax rate while still adding $222 million in additional bonds. It should also be noted that a successful bond election does not require the Board to sell the bonds. Instead, it grants the Board the authority to sell bonds, but the Board can consult with financial advisors and consider the economic outlook and market rates before selling any bonds.