CCISD board meeting to consider bond election

The Clarendon CISD Board of Trustees will meet tonight, February 14, to consider calling a bond election on May 4 to fund improved athletic and ag facilities as well as safety upgrades to the school.

The board meeting will begin at 7 p.m. with the community invited to attend a presentation beforehand at 6 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium.

CCISD Trustees met in a called session last Wednesday and discussed potential projects and bonds totaling between $9.4 million and $13.2 million, which would be paid for by an additional property tax of between 25 cents and 35 cents per $100 valuation.

In open forum during last week’s meeting, Roger Wade expressed his concerns about the possible issuance of bonds and asked several questions of school officials.

“I’m not against some improvements, but we have to consider what do we want and what do we need,” Wade said. “Who is going to pay and who is not going to pay?”

Wade criticized the school’s ag program and the proposed construction of a new ag facility, saying he felt the current building wasn’t being used adequately. He also suggested the Bronco field house could be renovated instead of replaced. He also voiced concerns that people who won’t have to pay for the bonds (due to the new $100,000 homestead exemption) will vote for the bonds.

Corey Gaither also addressed the board and asked for “a little common sense.” He objected to the cost estimates for some of the items up for consideration.

“Three and half million for a field house. Really? Half a million for an announcer’s booth? That’s the cost of a house,” Gaither said.
As the meeting moved into the discussion of the projects, Superintendent Jarod Bellar addressed the concerns of those present while re-presenting some information from the board’s January 16 meeting.

“I want to be as transparent as possible,” Bellar said.

The superintendent explained that if the board votes to move forward, citizens would be asked to vote on two separate ballot questions. Proposition A would be for a new ag building and campus safety improvements for about $4 million. Proposition B would be for improvements at Bronco Stadium for about $7 million.

Among the athletic improvements discussed were a new facility for the field house, restrooms, and concession stand; accessibility issues in the stadium; a new press box; new visitor and home bleachers; and possibly a new artificial turf field.

The superintendent said it’s possible the school could use some of its fund balance – $1.2 to $1.5 million – to help with the projects. He said about $576,000 of the fund balance is designated for construction.

Bellar told Wade he understood his comments about the ag program and said the school was working to make the program better with industry certifications.

“I want that for our kids,” Bellar said. “We’re trying to make a strong program.”

Bellar said the facility study completed of the school campus last year probably did not include the Band Hall but said it generally found most facilities in “fine working order” except for the ag building and the field house.

Citizens in attendance expressed concerns about the short time available before decisions can be made about the bond. To which Bellar replied that if the board votes to proceed with calling for a bond election, the election would be May 4 and that would give adequate time for the information to be presented to the voters so they can make an informed decision.