FAQ

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required to renovate existing buildings or build a new school. Essentially, it’s permission to take out a loan to build, renovate and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.

Recent research by the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that a school’s physical environment can play a major role in academic performance. Leaky roofs and problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can trigger a host of health problems – including asthma and allergies – that increase absenteeism and reduce academic performance. Research links key environmental factors to health outcomes and students’ ability to perform.

Working with the Board of Trustees, teachers, and administrators from across the district, the facilities planning committee developed a list of items to consider for inclusion in a bond package. The District has been evaluating current facilities and equipment, ongoing enrollment, growth, and other priorities identified by the Facility Planning Committee, with the Board of Trustees.

The last S&S CISD bond project was initiated in 2018—7 years ago.

If the bond passes, the new Intermediate School would be built on the existing land that has already been purchased next to the current Middle School.

If the 2025 bond passes, an itemized account of expenditures will be provided after it passes, funds are received, and the required bid process has been carried out.

When school districts go out for a bond, they base their number on a budgeted amount based on current construction costs. The budgeted amount for the new Intermediate campus is $31,000,000. This amount was provided by Gallagher Construction, which is currently working in Bells ISD, Whitesboro ISD, Collinsville ISD, Howe ISD, Van Alstyne ISD, Gunter ISD, and Pottsboro ISD, along with many other districts across the state. Incorporating Gallagher Construction into the bond planning process allowed the bond planning committee to understand current construction costs, which included inflation as part of the proposed bond amount. 

Example: If you were building a house, you would want to make sure you have the funds needed before collecting formal bids from contracted work to complete the construction.

Certain items can be bid out separately by the district to save money during the formal bid process. An example of this took place when the Middle School was built. S&S CISD went out for bids and was able to cut costs on purchasing furniture.

Once details have been established, the Ag Addition will need to be bid on. The plan is to build an Ag barn similar in size to the existing barn, which is dedicated to animal pens for lambs, goats, and pigs, which are currently housed there during show season.

A wash station and supply storage would also be part of this Ag Addition. The current barn is limited in pen spaces, and half of the building is taken up by the practice ring that students utilize to work their show animals.

The CTE Addition would be added to the end of one of the academic wings of the high school. This space would be larger than a regular classroom, allowing for CTE programs like Robotics, Engineering, and Health Sciences.

The district would determine whether we have current staff able to teach the specific course(s) that would utilize the CTE space. If it is determined that an additional teacher is needed, like all teachers, their salary would be based on their years of experience. Teacher salaries cannot come out of a bond.

The new Intermediate School would house students in grades 3-5. Based on the current transfer numbers entering the new campus, there would be a total of 13 students for all three grade levels combined.

These numbers are based on current (grades 3-5) transfers:

• 1st grade—6 transfers

• 2nd grade—2 transfers

• 3rd grade—5 transfers

On average, each class has 65 students; therefore, three grade levels total 195 students, and 13 are current transfers. 

Transfer students are not required to pay tuition since the school district receives funding from the state for students enrolled in the district. Surrounding districts do not require paid tuition for transfers in our area, and the large majority of school districts in the state of Texas have removed the tuition requirement.

Our District of Innovation Plan is located on the S&S CISD website. This sets the standard of expectations and requirements for students who desire to transfer into S&S CISD.

Every school district in the state receives a rating on student performance and growth, along with many other measures.

S&S CISD no longer bases ALL student growth off of the STAAR test. This year, S&S CISD has implemented MAP testing, which is given three times a year to monitor student growth along the way, rather than basing student growth off of a once-a-year STAAR test.

If built, the new Intermediate School would allow our elementary-age testers (grades 3-5) to be on the same campus, which would affect how the state evaluates campus performance and student academic growth.

No, we are waiting for the outcome of the May 2025 election, it is not timely or fiscally responsible to carry out this type of study when it has not been determined if a school will be built on that site.

With the building of the Middle School, renderings were not provided until the outcome of the bond election was determined and the design phase was completed.

The same process is planned for this project. If the district chose pre-design renderings, additional architect fees would be spent without knowing whether or not the project would take place.

Yes, questions need to be submitted before the Town Hall on Thursday, April 17, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Elementary Cafeteria in the question submission form below.

The second Town Hall will be held virtually on Facebook Live on Tuesday, April 22, starting at 6:00 pm.