PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Van Vleck ISD School Board Unanimously Calls Bond Election
Early Voting Begins October 23; Election Day is Tuesday, November 7
VAN VLECK, TEXAS – At its regular meeting on June 28, 2017, the Van Vleck ISD (VVISD) Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call a $88.2 million bond election asking voters to consider a proposition that, if approved, would provide funding to building a new PreK-5 elementary school; new middle school; new high school; renovations to the existing gymnasium, auditorium and Ag barn; improvements to the district stadium, and the purchase of eight school buses.
“The needs are definitely there, and I am so excited for the voters of VVISD to get a chance to vote on our District’s future,” said Kurtis Brown, Van Vleck ISD School Board Vice President. “If approved, it is estimated that this bond election would result in a tax rate increase of no more than 40.71 cents. This equals $305.33 per year for the average VVISD taxpayer with a $125,000 home valuation (after state and local homestead exemptions), or roughly 85 cents per day. Senior citizens 65 years of age or older with a homestead exemption will not experience a tax increase as a result of this bond election. Local industry will pay approximately 59%, or $52,038,000, of the bond, leaving $36,162,000 to be paid by the remaining VVISD taxpayers,” says Brown.
“We have been studying our facilities and working on this facility plan for several months,” said John O’Brien, Superintendent of Schools and 1983 graduate of Van Vleck High School. “Our community and our school district have old and aging facilities that make teaching and learning a difficult challenge, and we all want our children to keep pace with their peers as they prepare for higher education or career-technology education paths in the current workforce. In addition, we want them to meet the education expectations of our parents and community and the competitive education environment in our State and Nation. I couldn’t be any happier about our Trustees unanimous decision to move forward with a bond election this November,” said O’Brien.
The bond was recommended to the VVISD Board by the 2017 Facilities Advisory Committee. “Our Committee truly believes the time is now,” stated John Hoffman, Chair of the 2017 Facilities Advisory Committee. “Multiple factors, including the fact that Van Vleck ISD has not built an entirely new school building since 1972, influenced our decision,” Hoffman continued.
The 2017 Facilities Advisory Committee was chartered by the VVISD Board in January 2017. Twenty-nine community leaders, parents, and teachers representing a cross section of the district met seven times from February to June to analyze, consider, and ultimately propose a decision regarding VVISD facilities.
“From our discussions as a Committee and discussions with VVISD community members, the sentiment was the same: We are tired of old buildings. Our students deserve new educational facilities.” said Shefford Williams, Jr., one of the committee members who presented the recommendation to the VVISD Board.