Waelder ISD will make fourth attempt to pass bond measures

For the fourth time in less than two years, Waelder ISD will attempt to pass a bond issue to make improvements to its school facilities to better serve its student population.

The Waelder ISD Board of Trustees has approved a Nov. 7 bond election. On the ballot will be two propositions totaling just under $7 million — more than $3.3 million less than the district sought in its last failed attempt in May. Voters can approve both, either or none of the two measures, which were recommended by a Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee.

“Most residents know that Waelder ISD has been trying to pass a bond issue for several years,” WISD Superintendent Ron Lilie said. “Three previous bond attempts have failed, and it would be easy for district personnel and the Board of Trustees to give up, but we can’t. Our students, our faculty, our staff, and the importance of their work, are too important for us to quit. That is why we are seeking school facilities that support good teaching and learning and an overall quality educational experience for all students.

“People will ask, ‘How is this bond issue different?’ The Board of Trustees has reduced the amount of money for this bond issue compared to previous attempts, while maintaining a focus on academic facilities and facilities that will support physical needs of students as well. No bond money is being requested for administration purposes, which is different than some previous bond attempts, and the school district is linking multiple program challenges with a single facility project for greater efficiency and cost savings.”

Proposition A, which would call for the issuance of $5.826 million, would have four main components:

• Remodeling the existing old gym, which cannot be used as a gym and is currently being used as storage, into a cafetorium that would seat all students in two lunch periods, provide a stage for the district for fine arts and theatre arts, and an auditorium for school and community functions.

• Renovations and improvements to the Middle School that includes replacement of 17-year-old carpet, replacing leaking windows, providing a monitored fire alarm system, and other renovations and improvements.

• Classrooms for fifth and sixth grade students that would provide permanent classrooms, eliminate portable buildings, and save the district the annual cost of renting portable buildings, a savings of $76,222 per year.

• High school upgrades that include replacing 13-year-old carpet, provide an entrance safety vestibule, more efficient lighting, and interior and exterior painting, and other building improvements.

“An example of multiple challenges being addressed by one facility project would be remodeling an existing building to build a cafetorium,” Lilie said. “The existing cafeteria is small, and four lunch periods are needed to feed all students. This reduces the number of academic courses that could be offered if there were only two lunch periods. A cafetorium could serve all students with two lunch periods and would provide a stage to support fine arts and theatre arts classes (the school does not have a stage).

“By moving furniture in the cafetorium the facility could be used as an auditorium that would provide a setting for both school and community events. An additional benefit to having a cafeteria that is large enough for all students is the elimination of many students currently having to eat their lunch outside under the pavilion. While the pavilion is covered, it still subjects students to the weather – heat, cold, blowing rain, etc.”

Proposition B, for $1.1 million, calls for renovating the open pavilion into a climate-controlled gymnasium that will serve as many as 14 different student groups that utilize gym facilities in the district. Total cost of the project is $2.1 million, with the district using current tax maintenance notes to pay $1 million toward the project.

The Citizens Advisory Committee, comprised of citizens from throughout the school district, met several times during the summer before making their project recommendations to the Waelder ISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 10. Four day later, on Aug. 14, the Waelder ISD Board of Trustees formally called for an election.

The total school tax rate is estimated to increase — if both measures are approved — by approximately 5.42 cents from a fiscal 2023 proposed rate of 92.89 cents per $100 valuation to a fiscal year 2024 rate of 98.31 cents. While the debt service rate is expected to increase from 7.43 cents to 20.5 cents, the maintenance and operations rate is expected to drop from 85.46 cents to 77.81 cents.

However, homeowners could see further tax relief from a measure on the Nov. 7 constitutional amendment ballot that would increase the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. The legislature approved the higher homestead exemption amount, but Texas voters must approve the change at the ballot box before it takes effect.

If the higher homestead exemption is approved, then a home with an appraised value of $100,000 or less would not be subject to taxation by the school district — a savings of up to $557.34. Homes appraised for more than $100,000 would see their taxable value decreased by $100,000 instead of just $40,000 and could see savings of between $340.54 to $543.79 per year, depending on their total taxable value.

“The cafetorium is just one of five projects that would greatly enhance the learning experience for our children and voters will have the unique opportunity to approve the bond issue and pay less school taxes than last year due to the state legislature passing HJR 2 this summer,” Lilie said. “Proposition 4 will be on the ballot this Nov. 7 and when passed, will lower school taxes by raising the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000.”

Early voting for the Waelder bond election will begin Oct. 23 and will end on Nov. 3. To vote in the Nov. 7 Waelder ISD bond election, a qualified voter must be registered no later than 30 days prior to the election. A voter registration form may be acquired from the county elections clerk. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 10.

“During the next several weeks I hope to be given the opportunity to describe all five projects that comprise this bond issue proposal,” Lilie said. “Thank you for your time and thanks to the newspaper for providing information to the community. If anyone has specific questions they would like for the school district to answer, please send an email to erinsuhr@waelderisd.org.”

In May, Waelder ISD was trying to get voters to approve a $10.3 million bond package that would have allowed the district $7.1 million to make improvements to district facilities — including for safety and security — as well as $3.2 million to refund principal and/or interest on previously issued maintenance tax notes.

However, voters rejected Proposition A, the one for $7.1 million, by a 185-155 margin, while shooting down Proposition B, the one for $3.2 million, by a vote of 187-149.

Waelder ISD has held bond measure proposals in May 2022, November 2022 and May 2023 without success on any of them. Only 263 people voted on the measure in May 2022, which failed by a 165-98 margin, while 554 voters cast ballots in a November 2022 election that saw Prop A fall by a 289-261 margin and Prop B by a 315-239 tally.