Update May 8:
Voters approve the $481 million bond package at the election Saturday, May 7.
Update May 5: Election day is Saturday, May 7, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Polling locations.
“I want you to be proud of what we do for the children of this community,” said Plano ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Binggeli to a group of community members at a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, March 31.
Presented by the Plano Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, the purpose of the meeting was to learn more about the the $481 million bond package that voters will decide on May 7. The bond package will be allocated toward eight Plano ISD projects, as recommended by the Plano ISD Facilities and Technology Task Force, with no increase to the tax rate (Fun fact: Plano has the 2nd lowest tax rates of Collin County school districts). Capital expenses include:
- District-wide renovations to existing structures (44% or $209,970,000)
- Additional facilities for fine arts programs (20% or $94,305,000)
- Technology infrastructure (15% or $73,935,000)
- Expanding classroom and program capacity (10% or $50,675,000)
- Early childhood education (4% or $21,285,000)
- Safety and security equipment (3% or $12,270,000)
- New school buses (2% or $9,720,000)
- Athletics (2% or $8,840,000)
Plano ISD employs nearly 7,000 faculty and staff members. Its 72 schools and 17 instructional and service facilities house the district’s 54,818 students.
We have fostered some of the best and brightest students. Our 2105 ACT and SAT average scores exceeded the state and national averages and we have more kids taking the test than the national average.
“Plano ISD, for many years, has been committed to making sure we will not let facilities get dis-repaired, obviously, but also not let them get antiquated in such that kids in one facility do not have the same opportunities that kids in another one do,” said Binggeli.
Down to the details
More than 60 percent of Plano ISD secondary students participate in fine arts programs. The bond package allows for the construction of a Plano ISD Fine Arts facility to be used for performances by all campuses’ fine arts programs.
Eleven Plano ISD elementary schools are projected to exceed functional capacity in the next 10 years. Bond funds include acquiring land and building Plano’s 45th elementary school, a transition center to support students with special needs, as well as a third childcare center for Plano ISD employees.
Research shows that pre-school education increases the academic success of students. The bond proposal includes plans of a fourth early childhood school to be located at Mapelshade and Preston Road.
Plano ISD buses travel 14,487 miles each day. Part of the bond is allocated to replace 90 school buses as they reach the end of their 15-year life.
To improve our athletics program, the bond includes the addition and replacement of artificial turf across the district, as well as the addition and renovation of locker rooms and the expansion of softball and baseball bleachers.
Technology upgrades will affect the 48,000+ devices that connect to the wireless network per day and the 84+ miles of fiber cabling connecting all campuses.
There’s more….
Visit pisd.edu/2016bond where you can find videos and PDF presentations. Be an informed voter!
Plano ISD Facilities and Technology Task Force
Appointed in August of 2015 by the Plano ISD Board of Trustees, the 29-member task force was comprised of parents, grandparents, business leaders, former Plano ISD superintendent, principals, teachers and PTA members. During several meetings over a period of five months, the task force reviewed enrollment trends and projections, established construction and renovation needs and validated costs before making recommendations to the school board. On February 2, trustees approved the order calling for the May 7 bond election.
Election day is May 7.
