February 9, 2023, Board Workshop Presentation

Red Oak ISD held a Public Hearing and Board Meeting on February 9, 2023, with Board Members calling for a May 6 bond election for a single item – a second middle school.

“The growth isn’t going away,” stated Superintendent Brenda Sanford. “While we have added classroom space, we are still well over capacity at the current middle school for support spaces such as the cafeterias, hallways, restrooms, and extracurricular areas. With approximately 1,550 students, there are fewer engagement opportunities available to students and it is hard to establish relationships and have a family atmosphere on a campus that large.”

Since the failed May 2022 bond election, the District added portables, relocated high school classes to TSTC, and moved office spaces to provide additional classroom space for Red Oak Middle School.

In addition, the District has explored multiple alternate growth options including leasing an empty school in DeSoto ISD, smaller bond projects to renovate the former Shields Elementary, expanding elementary schools, and even building a smaller school to start, then expanding. Some of these options; however, would still require a bond to be passed.

The best solution for both cost efficiency and long-term academic excellence is the addition of a second middle school.

The District recently released a video series covering many of the issues surrounding growth and facilities, truth in taxation, bond and bonding capacity, credit ratings, and the difference between a tax rate and extending property taxes for the life of the bond. The videos can be found on the District's Facebook and YouTube channels.

“We have reduced the Red Oak ISD tax rate each of the past four years,” stated Superintendent Sanford. “After listening to our constituents, we proposed a single proposition for only a second middle school and acquired the preliminary designs. Based on current projections, we can sell bonds without a tax rate increase to the I&S Fund. No, we cannot guarantee that the tax rate will not go up OR down during the course of the life of the bond; however, current projections show the current I&S rate will pay for the bond debt over time. These are the basic facts. But what it really comes down to is the educational philosophy of Red Oak ISD to provide the best learning environment for student success.”

Since the preliminary design was completed last fall, the construction timeline would be compressed should the bond pass in May. The bidding and procurement process to lock in prices could begin after the election while the design phase is being completed. Construction can begin earlier thus maintaining the goal of opening by August 2025. (It typically takes 24-28 months to complete a project of this size.)

General Bond Information – May 6, 2023

• Proposition A – Constructing, Acquiring, and Equipping a New (2^nd) Middle School
• Total cost – $97.5M
• Early Voting –
  • April 24-29, May 1-2 (details coming soon)
• Election Day
  • Saturday, May 6, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (details coming soon)