Election 2024

The 2024 ECISD Bond package was developed through a bond advisory committee with the community and school collaboration toward:

Prop A:  In addition to the rising costs of inflation, the state has not adjusted the student allotment since 2019, causing ECISD to be in a $2.4 million deficit. A VATRE of $.05 to the M&O Tax Rate will allow ECISD to provide raises to teachers and staff to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff. This will also allow ECISD to maintain its current class sizes and avoid eliminating student programs. 

Prop B: This prop responds to increased enrollment with new construction of a new High School, two new Elementary Schools (north & south), and renovation of existing Agricultural Science Complex and gym that is 45 years old. 

Prop C: Hornet Stadium has not been renovated since 1982, and the pressbox was recently condemned.  A facilities report found the bleachers unsafe and not compliant.  While a new high school will be added if Proposition B passes, Hornet Stadium will remain the varsity playing field increased seating capacity will accommodate more spectators. In addition, the stadium is not in compliance with local building standards regarding the restrooms and concession stands. The scoreboard is at the end of its useful life and will be replaced. The stadium lighting will be updated for efficiency and effectiveness. 

Prop D: The tennis courts have many parts that are unusable due to cracked and deteriorating surfaces. Softball has safety, accessibility, and drainage issues. Baseball continues to have drainage issues with escalating maintenance costs. Tennis will receive court renovations to improve safety and playability. Softball and baseball will receive artificial turf, improved drainage and cheaper maintenance. Softball would improve parking and accessibility for spectators.

Since 2019, Texas has not increased the student allotment even though the cost of operating the district has increased due to inflation.

• The local and state revenue does not provide any money for new construction or substantial repairs.
• The Maintenance and Operations budget covers salaries and overall cost to run the district.
• This year, ECISD adopted a budget deficit of $2.4 million 
   

Teacher and Staff Pay

• This proposal takes full advantage of opportunities school districts have to maximize state funding through what is known as golden pennies, whereby the state is required to kick in more funding to a particular school district when its voters approve a higher local tax rate. Nearly 40% of the money generated from the rate of increase will come from the state.
• ECISD is the largest employer in the area, and the proposal will increase the salaries of 1,700+ employees in the community.
• The district is already making budget cuts to address a budget shortfall. Still, it cannot give teachers and staff a cost-of-living increase to keep salaries competitive without cutting more programs and adopting a deficit budget of $2.4 million. This measure will provide the funding needed for raises with a balanced budget and limited program cuts.
• The official ballot language says the proposal will generate an additional $3.8 million, which is just from local taxpayers. The proposal will also require the state to kick in over $2.8 million for ECISD, for $6.6 million in additional revenue.
• There is a national teacher shortage that is being felt throughout Texas, making competitive salaries more important than ever. This rate increase is needed to keep compensation competitive and attract and retain the most highly effective teachers.
• ECISD competes with neighboring districts for teachers. Recently, many of these districts have increased teacher pay, and the district cannot keep up without a tax rate increase. This proposal could keep salaries competitive and recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.

East Central ranks last in the local area school districts on per pupil spending. The chart below shows the amount ECISD pays per student compared to the area's surrounding school districts.  This passage of a $.05 increase will allow us to improve the amount we pay for each student attending ECISD schools.

Safety and security were a top priority for the district and board when considering the 2024 proposal

• Proposition A would include cameras, access controls, Silent Panic Alert Technology, 911 radio repeaters, cell phone boosters, perimeter fencing, bullet resistant film, mental health first aid training, campus radios, PA system upgrades, AEDs, Stop the Bleed kits, Epinephrine Pens, and additional police officers for new campuses.
• Prop A provides funds to fulfill a statewide legislative mandate signed by the governor of Texas, requiring armed personnel at all schools.
• Texas House Bill 3 requires armed personnel on every campus, but cost and recruitment prevent ECISD from complying with the new law.
   

Currently, ECISD has a $2.4M budget deficit. If the VATRE doesn’t pass, it will increase the deficit to nearly $9M. 

• Teachers and staff will no longer be able to receive a raise to keep up with cost of living increases other than the normal step increase.
• Through attrition, positions would not be filled and possibly some positions eliminated across the district.
• Class sizes will be impacted 
• Some student programs may be eliminated 
• It will be more challenging to recruit and retain experienced teachers.
• Other safety measures won’t be prioritized to fulfill the statewide mandate of armed personnel at all campuses.
   

Yes. The Facilities Planning Committee has reviewed several options, from a phase-in approach to a four-year comprehensive high school approach. The demographic studies reveal a second high school will be needed by the 2027-28 school year due to the overcrowding at East Central High School. By 2027, East Central High School will have 4,584 students. Currently, the Facilities Planning Committee and community survey revealed the desire for a comprehensive high school with a capacity of 2,500 students.

To keep up with growth in the community.

• Currently, projections show the high school and two elementary schools will exceed 120% capacity-based. The high school will hit this mark for the 2028-2029 school year. The elementary schools will hit this mark for the 2027-2028 school year.
• ECHS has one competition gym, and the practice gyms at the high school require repair. The bond could allow for the conversion of the older practice gyms into a new, second PE gym and updating spaces for training rooms, locker rooms, and weight rooms.
• Based on the district's growth, more students participate in the educational Agricultural Science program. More students are utilizing existing animal pens, and new pens will be added to meet program growth. An enhanced layout and operation of the Agricultural Science Complex will assist in more students participating in animal shows. The renovations also include additional pens for animal projects to keep up with growth in the district. Current pens will be updated and modernized to support the future growth of the program.
   

Delaying implementation of the bond program exposes the District to escalating construction costs, which are expected to increase the proposed bond projects' total cost by an estimated 10% or $35M in the next year and an additional 8% each subsequent year.

• The high school and two elementary schools will exceed 120% capacity based on demographer projections. The high school will hit this mark for the 2028-2029 school year. The elementary schools will hit this mark for the 2027-2028 school year.
• Additional safety concerns with overpopulation of campus schools and its impact on the learning environment.
• If Prop B doesn’t pass there may be some students who will not be allowed to raise an animal project at the Agricultural Science Complex due to the unavailability of space. The current animal pens will continue to have drainage issues. 
   

Stadium renovations to include:

• New press box
• New elevator for ADA
• New bleachers
• Enhanced safety due to new bleachers and lighting.
• New scoreboard
• Lighting 
• Improve fan amenities to include concession stands and restrooms.
   

The stadium is not ADA-compliant.

• No elevator
• The bleachers haven’t been updated or renovated since 1982. They have been deemed unsafe in a facility report.
  • Uneven bleachers
  • Sharp objects/corners
  • No handrails
  • Slip-and-trip hazards
  • Previous repairs were not long-term fixes
• The press box at Hornet Stadium has been condemned and was removed on 6/25/2024.
• If Prop B & C passes, both high schools will share the stadium.
• Fan amenities like concession stands and restrooms no longer meet current building codes.
   

Delaying implementation of the bond program exposes the District to escalating construction costs, which are expected to increase the proposed bond projects' total cost by an estimated 10% in the next year and an additional 8% each subsequent year.

• There will be no press box on the home side. Currently, a mobile press box has been created on the ground level on the track. There is not room in the mobile press box for coaches, just the timekeeper and the announcers.
• The stadium will continue to have ADA compliance issues.
• The stadium bleachers will not be fixed.
   

• Tennis Court Replacement & Improve Lighting and Building Renovation
• Baseball/Softball Field House w/ covered batting cages    
• Baseball Field Upgrade    
• Softball Field Relocation/Upgrade
   

The current tennis courts are unsafe because of cracked and deteriorating surfaces. Tournaments run long and not all are lit to provide lighting once it is dark.

• Other districts opt to play at other courts instead of East Central’s.
• With any rain, water pools into large puddles preventing them from drying quickly and properly. 
• Currently, only four of the eight courts have lighting. 
   

• The current Softball field has natural grass and has drainage and maintenance issues when inclement weather hits the area.
• The facilities report deemed the softball complex has accessibility and safety issues for spectators. 
  • Location is far away from the parking lot.
  • No handicap parking available near facility.
  • The pathway to the facility has many cracks, undulations, slip-and-trip hazards.
• Softball has no adjacent parking for spectators, making it difficult for those with mobility challenges to attend the games. The bond would move parking to be more adjacent to the field to improve accessibility for all patrons. 
• It improves ADA accessibility and access.
• By relocating closer to baseball, spectators, parents, family and friends will have closer access to the facility.
• With Prop D, baseball and softball can utilize shared facilities. For example, covered batting cages and locker rooms adjacent to their playing facilities. 
   

Currently, both programs travel at great distances from the locker rooms to their playing and practice. This creates safety concerns for student-athletes walking at night and lost practice time due to transitions between locker rooms and practice facilities. A new field house would allow both teams to dress in a space adjacent to their facilities, therefore improving safety and practice time. 

Prop D includes new, covered batting cages with 6-8 bays. 

• The addition of covered batting cages allows the baseball and softball programs to hit after dark with lighting and protection from inclement weather. 
• The ability to practice even during inclement weather.
• The facility will allow both teams to use hitting and pitching areas.
• Protective netting for safety.
• Storage area for teams to hold equipment.  
• It would be between the storage area / field house.
   

• The turf will improve the overall cost of maintenance to maintain the fields, increase safety to student athletes, and improve drainage.
• The current stands for both programs do not adequately support the number of spectators to attend safely. 
• Increase storage for both programs who are currently purchasing shipping containers as storage. Severe weather has caused damage to equipment in those containers. New storage would eliminate loss of resources and equipment for both teams.
• The current baseball press box is in major need of repair and is towards the end of its useful life.
• The current Baseball and softball fields are natural grass and have drainage and maintenance issues. Prop D adds turf, new lighting, fan restrooms, improved drainage, increased seating, and improved ADA accessibility.

• One elementary school will be located in the north
• One elementary school will be located in the south
• Currently, the new high school is projected to be located on the south end of the district, but a final determination has not been made at this time 
   

• The new high school will have its own stadium for track, soccer, and sub-varsity football. This is similar to several other high schools in the local area.
• The new high school will play its varsity football home games at Hornet Stadium. 
   

Yes, the new high school would have volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, track, ten soccer, and sub-varsity football fields.

• Those are currently under review by the district committee and won’t be determined until a later date. 
• Possible programs could include but not yet determined: cosmetology, cyber-security, robotics, aeronautics, etc.
   

That will be determined at a later date by a community committee of students, parents, staff and citizens.

The new high school will be built for 2,200 with a core for 3,200.  This means that the cafeteria, library, athletics, and other common areas will be built for 3,200 for future growth.  Instructional spaces will accommodate 2,200 students until a future bond will allow us to build additional instructional spaces. 

Yes. Several programs at ECHS will be offered at the new high school. Those include dual credit, advanced placement, dual enrollment, colloquium, band, dance, cheer, athletics, JROTC, foreign languages, etc. 

• The projected timeline for the new high school would be scheduled to open in the 2028 school year.  

• The elementary school in the north (#10) would be scheduled to open in fall of 2027
• The elementary school in the south (#11) would be scheduled to open in fall of 2028 
   

Could you please elaborate on what “closing out the 2022 bond” means? Are you using new bond debt to pay off the old one because you expect interest rates to be lower? The $.19 increase – is that required to pay the new debt, or will it be earmarked for the old bond as well?

• We are not using new bond debt to pay off old.  
• Currently, not all the bonds from 2022 have been sold. These bonds will be sold at a later date and will increase our I&S tax rate by $.03 as we shared with the community back in 2022.  This is factored into the $.19 total I&S tax rate increase or 2022 + 2024.  Or put another way, $.03 +$.16 = $.19.  Please note that the $.16 will not take effect until after 2027 and there will be no impact from the 2024 bond for the first year. 
   

The 2022 Bond projects are scheduled to be on time and on budget. East Central ISD voters passed the proposed 2022 Bond by 62 percent, approving the $240 million package to address overcrowding at every campus, as well as safety and security, career and technical education, and land purchases for future growth.

The increased enrollment response includes the addition of two new elementary schools (Honor Elementary and Elementary School South), a new middle school (Valor), and new pre-K and Kindergarten classroom additions at several schools. This bond includes a new transportation facility and renovation of the existing facility for a new warehouse and new Police headquarters.

The 2022 Bond also created safer and more energy-efficient environments with secure entry vestibules, addressed building safety codes, improved drop-off and pick-up areas, and improved energy efficiency. All schools are now equitable for security vestibules, bullet-resistant glass and perimeter fencing.

Security Improvements

• Enhanced security measures across High School 
• Improved security at vestibule at Legacy Jr. High
• Improved security at vestibule at Heritage MS
• Improved security at vestibule at Tradition ES
• Improved security at vestibule or exterior entry at South Campus
• Improved security at vestibule or exterior entry at CAST Lead 
• Security vestibules are already in place at Salado, Pecan Valley, Harmony, Highland Forest and Sinclair as part of the 2016 construction program. 

Oak Crest Elementary

• Installed energy-efficient lighting
• Introduced co-labs into existing learning wings
• Constructed a new Pre-K/K Learning Wing with 12 classrooms (net of 8)
• Added new A/V devices for student learning
• Constructed new pickup/dropoff turnaround

Highland Forest Elementary

• Introduced co-labs into existing learning wings
• Constructed a new Pre-K/K Learning Wing with 12 classrooms (net of 8)
• Installed energy-efficient lighting
• Added new A/V devices for student learning
• Revised fire lanes
• Constructed a new pickup/drop-off loop

Legacy Middle School

• Added new sidewalks to access outdoor facilities 
• Painted interior
• Constructed new freestanding restroom bldg. at field
• Added new outdoor collaborative learning spaces
• Energy efficient lighting
• Constructed new secured vestibule
• Improved parent stack space

Heritage Middle School

• Added new outdoor collaborative learning spaces 
• Upgraded HVAC controls
• Installed energy-efficient lighting
• Constructed new exterior awnings at entry and west side exterior doors
• Removed lockers in corridors
• Constructed new secured vestibule
• Renovated restrooms

Salado Elementary

• Added new road to accommodate double lane for double stack space parking
• Added pick up per grade level lines

• Honor Elementary School opened this year in 2024.
• Elementary School South (#9) is scheduled to open in 2026-2027 
• Valor Middle School (#3) is scheduled to open in 2026 - 2027
   

In 2022, our focus was on addressing the most urgent items across the district, based on the findings from comprehensive studies. At that time, demographic projections showed that our elementary schools and Heritage Middle School were approaching 120% capacity more rapidly than the high school. According to the data, the high school is expected to reach that level of capacity by the 2028-2029 school year, which is why it wasn't included in the previous bond.

The 2022 bond improved secured vestibules at each campus, fencing for the high school, two middle schools, and elementary schools.  It also included a security booth at ECHS. 

Election Day for East Central ISD’s bond proposal is Tuesday, November 5. Early voting is from October 21 to November 1.

All registered voters within the boundaries of East Central ISD are qualified to vote. Register to vote by October 7, 2024.

Students will remain on their home campuses until the new construction is completed and boundary lines are confirmed.

The new High School and new Elementary Schools will relieve overcrowding at ECHS, Tradition Elementary, Honor Elementary, and Harmony Elementary Schools. 

If the bonds are not passed, the district anticipates installing portables at many campus. The cost for a two-room portable is $300,000. Shipping can increase the cost further.

Yes, this is a permissible way for employees to express their personal support or opposition to the bond. Click here for the Do's and Don'ts for district employees.

Yes, district employees can advocate the bond outside of their scheduled work day.
 

If you’d like to schedule an informative bond/VATRE presentation for your group/organization, please call the Office of the Superintendent at 210-634-6100.