GCISD committee begins to look at possible bond election

A committee of parents, educators and community members in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district recently began meeting to assess facility needs and consider recommending a May 2016 bond election.

The Facility Innovation & Readiness Stakeholder Team (FIRST) met July 28 and Aug. 11 to look at the financial state of the district and what improvements would help with long-term goals.

“Being a Robin Hood district, we receive no funding from the state for facilities,” said Superintendent Robin Ryan. “We have a committee like this every time we start looking at a possible bond.”

The group is composed of 35 parents and community members and 25 educators and administrators.

At the first meeting, Ryan presented an overview of the financial picture. The district lost $14 million in state funding in 2011 and gained $1.6 million back in 2013. Officials estimate a $2 million gain in 2015.

“You can see we’re still not funded at the same level by the State of Texas,” he said.

Ryan also pointed out that GCISD has one of the lowest tax rates in the region at $1.32.

The last GCISD bond was in 2011, a $124.5 million package that included campus and facility renovations and a dedicated career and technology center. District officials were originally targeting 2010 but delayed the proposal because of the economic downturn.

In the next six months, committee members will look at a comprehensive study of facilities needs and decide whether to recommend that trustees call another bond election.

Ryan said if the need for a bond is recommended, residents will support it.

“Our community understands the need for the upkeep of our schools to provide a great environment for our students and schools that will continue to add to the value of their property,” he said.

For more on the bond advisory committee, visit gcisdfirst.net.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "GCISD committee begins to look at possible bond election."