Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Friendship Isd Propositions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Friendship ISD superintendent outlines three Nov. 5 propositions to fund teacher pay, schools and technology
Summary
Friendship ISD Superintendent Dr. Michelle McCord told the Lubbock City Council that the district will present three propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot: an 8¢ maintenance-and-operations increase to fund teacher pay, a bond to build elementary schools and campus improvements, and a $10 million technology bond to preserve one-to-one devices.
Dr. Michelle McCord, superintendent of Friendship Independent School District, told the Lubbock City Council on Oct. 8 that the district will ask voters on Nov. 5 to approve three propositions intended to address rapid enrollment growth and teacher pay.
McCord said Friendship ISD serves more than 11,700 students across 16 campuses and is seeing 2–5% annual enrollment increases; demographers project the district could serve more than 15,000 students by 2030. To respond to growth and rising operating costs, the district is placing three measures on the ballot: Proposition A, a voter-approved tax rate measure that would increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate by 8 cents while lowering the interest-and-sinking (debt) rate by 8 cents so the overall rate remains roughly level; Proposition B, a bond measure described in the presentation to fund two new elementary schools and other campus and infrastructure improvements; and Proposition C, a $10 million technology bond to maintain one-to-one instructional devices for students and staff.
According to the presentation, the 8-cent increase to the M&O bucket would generate roughly $5.3 million in additional local revenue and about $3.9 million in additional state aid directed to M&O. McCord said those funds would be used this school year for teacher and staff salary increases, hiring teachers and campus police officers, funding student programs and maintaining class sizes. She said lowering the debt bucket preserves the district’s capacity to propose the capital bonds reflected in Propositions B and C.
The district presented demographic and capacity data showing two elementary campuses are projected to exceed capacity over the coming decade if no additional elementary schools are built; Ridgewood Elementary and other recent openings reduced pressure but gaps remain. McCord also cited safety and security costs (the presentation listed about $2.6 million annually) and summarized how M&O funds cover day-to-day operations while the interest-and-sinking bucket pays debt service on bonds.
The presentation listed the technology bond (Proposition C) at $10 million and described Proposition B as funding two new elementary schools plus renovations and transportation improvements. The transcript of the presentation includes a numerical rendering for Proposition B that was unclear in the record; the exact bond amount for Proposition B could not be confirmed from the meeting transcript.
Council members did not take action on the district’s propositions during the session; the presentation was provided for information and to give council and the public time to review the ballot language and project details.
Dr. McCord invited the council and the public to the district’s website for more information and to contact district staff with questions about the propositions or enrollment projections.
