IRVING (1080 KRLD) - Irving ISD trustees have approved a package of five bond propositions for the May ballot. The bond would be Irving ISD's first since 2007.
The bond is broken down into five proposals; voters will be able to approve or deny each. The five proposals total $701,750,000.
"When you travel to different districts, you see some things they have that we don't have. I always leave thinking, 'We've got to do something about that because our kids deserve it. Our teachers deserve it,'" says Randy Randle, president of the Irving ISD Board of Trustees. "We do great things with what we have, but it's time to do more."
The largest part of the proposal would include $538,750,000 to renovate all schools in Irving ISD and replace Barton Elementary, Farine Elementary and Crockett Middle School.
"This is the biggest and where we have the most important parts of this bond presentation," says Haim Vasquez, who served on the district's bond committee.
Proposition A would also include money for two "baby universities" to provide childcare for employees.
"My daughter went through early childhood development," Vasquez says. "That put her in position so when she entered Farine Elementary, she was ahead of her peers."
The measure would also pay for a career and technology education center.
A complete list of the bond proposals:
Proposition A - $538,750,000
● Renovation of 32 schools
● Replacement of 3 schools (Barton, Farine, Crockett)
● 2 Baby Universities (employee childcare centers)
● Career and Technology Education (CTE) Center
● Fine arts transportation and equipment
● Safety and Security
Proposition B - $18,000,000
● Technology
Proposition C - $17,000,000
● Replacement of Student Transportation and Logistics Center
Proposition D - $45,000,000
● 3 new indoor practice/JROTC facilities
Proposition E - $83,000,000
● Performing Arts Center
"We have a community and families who are hard-working people. They don't come to the board and complain and scream and holler at us because we don't have the greatest facilities for their students," Randle says.
"I think it's incumbent upon us as trustees and leaders in the community to provide for them. Their parents are working, and we don't want to shortchange our kids or our teachers."
All five proposals would lead to a property tax increase that would be gradually implemented, reaching an increase of 7.3 cents by the 2029 tax year. A person who owns a $250,000 home would pay about $185 more per year.
Irving ISD says its tax rate has dropped 30 cents since 2015.
Early voting will start April 24. The election will take place May 6.
Details about the bond are available at https://www.irvingisdbond.com/.
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