East Central ISD Board of Trustees calls for School Election

"I want to thank our board, staff and community for their work to help get us to this point,” Superintendent Roland Toscano said. “The decision was reached through a thorough process."

Prop A, also known as a Tax Rate Election (TRE), will ask voters to approve the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees ($.05 to M&O tax, bringing it from $.67 currently to $.72), which could add $6.6M of revenue to the district to recruit and retain staff, provide security updates and an armed officer at every campus. If approved, the East Central ISD will access the maximum revenue from golden pennies ($.03 out of the $.05 increase), which are not subject to recapture and remain in the district.

By leveraging state funding, nearly 40% of the revenue will come from the state, allowing the district to raise pay for over 1,700 employees during the ongoing national teacher shortage. The measure also funds security upgrades and ensures compliance with new, largely unfunded, state mandates for armed personnel at every campus. If the proposition is declined, the district faces budget cuts and a $8.6 million deficit, jeopardizing staff raises and program funding.

Since 2019, the State of Texas has not provided additional funding for school districts, even with inflation at record highs. This constrains the district’s buying power.

Additionally, East Central ISD will also ask voters to decide on three Bond 2024 Propositions (B, C, and D) for the future growth of the district and athletics facilities.

Texas school districts do not receive state funding for renovating or building new schools. Instead, they must receive funds through school elections. The 2024 election will ask voters to consider a $360 million package in four propositions.

East Central High School has grown by 300 and 355 students in the last two years and is near capacity. It will add another 420 students over the next two years and will be at 120% capacity in three years. Proposition B will allow for the construction of a second four-year comprehensive high school, which is needed for growth, and two new elementary schools.

Propositions C and D will address the district’s aging athletics facilities. The press box at Hornet Stadium was condemned and torn down on June 25. The bleachers have not been updated since 1982 and do not have the required ADA accessibility. Proposition C would renovate the bleachers at Hornet Stadium to be shared by both high schools and add a new scoreboard, lighting, and press box. Proposition D would include updates to the baseball and softball fields to fix drainage and turf, add covered batting cages, and add new tennis courts.

Prop A (TRE)

• Recruit & Retain High-Quality Staff
• Security Upgrades
• Armed Officer at Every Campus

Prop B

• Keeping Up with Student Growth
• New high school, two new elementary schools, ag renovations/additions, new competition gym at ECHS

Prop C

• Hornet Stadium Renovations

Prop D

• Address Aging Athletics Facilities

If voters approve $360 million for all four propositions in November, the estimated impact would be $26 a month for a home valued at $280,000 with the homestead exemption.

State law requires all bond propositions for any school district to have the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” on all ballot language for the bond propositions. Homeowners age 65 & older who have filed for and received the Over 65 exemption will not see an increase over their frozen dollar amount provided they make no substantial improvements to their homes. Check your most recent Notice of Assessed Value Change to see if you will be impacted.

"The district is committed to transparency regarding this election, ensuring our community has the information needed to make an informed vote," Toscano said.

The district website, ECISD.NET/ELECTION2024, will provide more information about the election, its financial impact, and voting locations.

To register to vote or to find out your registration status, call the Bexar County Elections Department at 210-335-VOTE (8683), or visit their website at https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department. The last day to register to vote in the November election is Monday, October 7.

Early voting begins Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.