VOTERS SAY YES TO BULLARD SCHOOLS
Bond proposal passes; next step is new elementary campus
By Lori Thomason

Voting was non-stop at Bullard City Hall on Tuesday. Three propositions on the ballot directly impact local residents,

Bullard superintendent Jim Wright said he had faith in the Bullard community. But that doesn't mean he's not relieved that district voters approved a $28.5 million school bond measure. Especially when every other surrounding district failed to pass a bond.

Bullard's passed Tuesday according to voting totals reported by both Smith and Cherokee counties..

In complete, but unofficial, totals, the bond passed with a vote of 1,271, or 58 percent for, and 908, or 42 percent, against.

"I've always known the school district enjoyed a great amount of support from the community and constituents, " Wright said. "This just reaffirms it."

And Wright said that after the votes are tallied, the district's work has just begun.

The first project planned is a new elementary school campus.

"It's our most critical project," Wright said. "We're out of classroom space.

The campus was the impetus for the bond and it's where the most money has been allocated. The plan outlines constructing a new elementary campus for grades second through fourth, with a core for 800 students and academics for 600 students in 80,000 square feet, to accommodate 525 students.

For $29.5 million, the district 's plan also includes:

! maintaining the Bullard Elementary as Bullard Primary School for grades Pre-K - first with maintenance and upgrades made for maintenance and operations budgeted funds and proposed bond funds, to accommodate 415 students.

! maintaining the intermediate campus for grades five and six, with renovations of cafeteria and modernizing current classrooms and computer labs. Construct 7,630 square feet for science classrooms and labs and a library. Demolish older while building and make a new entry to the campus, to accommodate 350 students.

! maintaining Bullard Middle School for grades seventh and eighth with maintenance and upgrades made from maintenance and operating budgeted funds and proposed bond funds, to accommodate 350 students.

! maintaining the high school and construct a new fine arts center with two classrooms and drama room, expand the dining area and expand seating on the south side of the gym. Construct a new stadium with all-weather track, all to accommodate 700 students.

Added at the last minute is a new road, constructed to alleviate traffic congestion on Schoolhouse Road. The road - added by BISD trustees at the last minute is projected at about $1 million, but Wright and others said it's essential to the growth.

"When our facilities committee began studying the needs of the school, traffic was one of the biggest concerns," said Paul Stone, BISD trustee.

Also added was an additional $500,000 to place 750 seats in the new high school auditorium - instead of the 500 recommended by the committee.

Trustees decided that it would be easier to go ahead and add the additional seats now instead of outgrowing the facility immediately.

And while it would appear taxpayers could pay more school taxes with the bond, Wright said because of recent legislation, it won't work that way.

In fact the rate would decrease over the next two years - because of HB1 and the addition of more resident to the area.

"We are in a unique position financially," trustee John Alexander said. "We should be able to fund this bond without overburdening our taxpayers."

To cover the bond, the tax rate would increase one cent per million dollars. But the board recently lowered the tax rate from $1.59 per $100 valuation to $1.47 per $100 valuation.

But one thing is clear to all involved: Growth is inevitable, and either you plan for it or it sneaks up on you.

The Rev. Donnie Barron, pastor of Bullard Southern Baptist Church and facilities spokesperson said the 60- member committee toured campuses, discovered code violations, found classes below TEA standards and were alarmed at the shrinking classroom and cafeteria space.

The facilities committees discussed the possibility of putting the "core essentials" in one package, and then allow citizens to vote on propositions for other additional projects.

But trustees see it as all necessary. "I don't believe in change

just for the sake of change," Barron told the board. "But we have no choice.

"Growth is imminent, and it's in everything around us. The future is knocking at our door."

The group has been working with Dr. Arnold Oates, Texas School Planning, Inc. Oates and he helped the facilities group understand their options.

Oates spent time in Bullard studying demographics and making projections for BISD.

He reviewed district facilities for use, condition and student capacity using the previous facility studies and visiting each campus to interview staff and teachers.

Oates determined the student capacity for each school in terms of educational functionality and adequacy, studied housing development and prepared a 10-year enrollment forecast to help determine the number of students per grade level by 2016.

According to Oates' preliminary report, Bullard was ahead of all other surrounding cities in growth at a percentage change of 37.5, followed by Whitehouse at 29.2 percent.

As Bullard's population grows, the district is likely to bear the brunt of a projected population spike, causing enrollment to soar.

School officials said the bond is right on schedule with the last one being in 1998. That one led to a $14.7 million bond which built the high school. Wright said about 700- 800 voted in that election.

Ten years - according to most school officials - is what district's plan for.

And this one is right on track. Wright said the new campus should be ready to move into in 2008.

The architect for the project is Mike Craig of Eubanks, Harris and Craig of Tyler. The construction manager at risk is WRL - the same firm who built Bullard High School.