La Porte ISD Bond 2023

Dr. Walter Jackson Superintendent of Schools

LPISD By The Numbers

 La Porte ISD founded in 1915

 1,141 employees

 $145.9M annual operating budget general fund 2022-2023

 86% of our general fund budget is dedicated to staffing

 $60.3M general fund balance (district savings account)

 Starting teacher salary is $60,000

 1,799 total professional development credit hours earned by La Porte ISD staff between August 2022 and January 2023.

 20 consecutive “A” ratings for “Superior Achievement” under Texas FIRST financial accountability rating system.

 TEA Accountability B (87)

LPISD By The Numbers

 7,125 students

 168 associate degrees earned through San Jacinto College since 2017

 104 AP Scholars from 2018-2022

 More than $1.4 million in scholarships awarded to LP seniors in 2022

 National Merit finalist

 12 Academic All State athletes

 State qualifying girls & boys cross country teams; individual state golf medalist

 26 UIL Sweepstakes awards won by La Porte ISD performing arts programs since 2020-21

 1,270 – Games played by La Porte student-athletes in a school year

 263 industry-based certifications were earned by LPISD CTE students in 2022

 93.2% – La Porte ISD Graduation Rate (compared with 90% statewide)*2021

Citizens Committee

• Committee consisted of 29 members

• Parents/Non-parents, campus/district, business/community

• The committee met and explored the possibility of a bond for over 18 months

• Meetings consisted of facility tours, needs assessment review, district financial studies, surveys, and stakeholder input

Committee Charge

• Consider the educational needs of all students

• Align recommendations with the district’s mission, vision and goals

• Consider the community needs in the facility planning process

• Assess and prioritize the current and long-term facility needs

• Develop a recommendation that is fiscally sound without a tax increase

Dr. Dustin Bromley Deputy Superintendent

LPISD Bond History

• EVERY 8-10 YEAR CYCLE – RICH HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE 90’S

• 2005 BOND - $203M

• 2014 BOND - $260M

• 2023 BOND - $235M

• WHAT DO BONDS PAY FOR?

• SAFETY & SECURITY

• MAINTENANCE OF A FACILITY

• TECHNOLOGY REPLACEMENT/UPGRADES

• TRANSPORTATION REPLACEMENT/UPGRADES

• FINE ARTS EQUIPMENT/LABS

• CAPITAL PROJECTS (BUILDINGS)

• FFE (FURNITURE, FIXTURES, & EQUIPMENT)

Recapture, also known as Robin Hood, allows the State of Texas to remove local property tax dollars from property wealthy school districts. Legislators then use these dollars to help balance the rest of the state budget.

School Finance “Recapture”

• Using a formula, the state sets an amount of money “glass” that a school district should have and/or need to operate.

Amount State Sets

Larger districts = larger glass

Smaller districts = smaller glass

• Annually local property tax revenue comes in like water flowing into the cup

• Sometimes revenue from local property tax spills over

Districts State Takes

• This excess in funds is “recapture” and is returned to the state to be redistributed

School Finance “Recapture”

Bond Funds Not Subject to Recapture

No Tax Impact – HOW?

1. Paying bonds off early/refinancing at lower rates ~$32M since 2004~

2. Growing tax base – Refineries & Industry

Tax Rate = $1.2565

All $235M will not be issued at once. Bonds will be issued in installments for up to 25 years

Taxable Values

Set by Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD)

LPISD does not set these values

• On Feb. 7, LPISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling for a school bond election on May 6 for $235M.

• The bond will address safety & security, aging facilities and evolving campus & district needs with no tax impact.

• 3 propositions (required by law)

• Proposition A – $164M

• Proposition B – $15M

• Proposition C – $56M

$164M 10 – year plan & campus/district needs

Every Student. Every Campus.

Safety & Security

Silent panic systems, security resistant film, perimeter fencing, communication upgrades, controlled access, manual panic buttons

Facilities

Fresh paint, flooring, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, generators, gym renovations, playgrounds, restroom repairs

Student Programs/Support

Fine arts upgrades, performing arts lighting/sound (Sonja Angelo Theater), stage upgrades, supplies, tools, kiln room repairs, equipment and more.

$164M 10 – year plan & campus/district needs

Every Student. Every Campus.

Furniture, Fixture, Equipment (FFE)

Desks, chairs, furniture, flexible seating

Instructional, co-curricular

Academic and core space improvements, STEM additions, CTE (Career Technology Education) lab upgrades

Transportation New buses w/enhanced cameras and fleet replacement. LPISD utilizes 85+ buses and more than 314 routes daily to transport over 50% of the student population.

PROPOSITION “A” ELEMENTARY EXAMPLE:

EVERY STUDENT. EVERY CAMPUS.

PROPOSITION “A” JUNIOR HIGH EXAMPLE:

EVERY STUDENT. EVERY CAMPUS.

PROPOSITION “A” HIGH SCHOOL EXAMPLE: EVERY STUDENT.

EVERY CAMPUS.

Proposition “A”: Additional Highlights – LP Development Center/Field house

1st floor Weight room, Title IX compliant locker rooms, equipment storage

2nd floor

Professional development space - teacher learning/development, community space, boosters, PTOs, flexible space for instructional classroom use

PROPOSITION

“B”: $15M TECHNOLOGY

PROPOSITION “B”: $15M

• Technology Devices:

• 1:1 devices for students, teachers, and staff K-12

• Teacher technology standard –docking stations, monitors, wireless access

• This accounts for buying new technology devices in phases over the next 10 years as they reach the end of their life cycle

PROPOSITION “C”: $56M

•Bulldog Stadium

• Current stadium

• Visitors side was built in 1958

• Home side built in late 1960’s

• Press box was updated in 2007

PROPOSITION “C”:

$56M

Investment

• 19.3 million invested since 2006

• 2006 – (turf, concrete repair)

• 2009 – (elevator replaced due to shifting)

• 2012 – (renovations/repairs)

• 2012 – (press box, drainage, concrete repair)

• 2013 – (turf replaced)

• 2015 – (scoreboard, life safety, repairs)

• 2017 – (stadium drainage)

Maintenance

• Since 2006 – Over 1,500 work orders have been completed at the stadium

• Fire/life safety, security lights, pedestrian lighting, electrical repairs, concrete repair, and standard annual maintenance

PROPOSITION “C”: $56M

•Bulldog Stadium

• Concerns

• Falling concrete

• Structure and Safety Concerns

• Not compliant with ADA accessibility standards

• 7-lane track & conditions

• Site drainage

• Site Assessment completed in (2021)

• Had to consider Repair vs. Rebuild?

• Repair = $29-30M (8-10 YEAR FIX)

• Complete Rebuild = $60M

THE STADIUM IS A CLASSROOM

The high school stadium is used for a variety of sporting and civic events throughout the school day & year.

•HS & JRHS Football

•Girls & Boys Soccer

•Girls & Boys Cross Country & Track

•Girls & Boys Physical Education

•Cheer/Dance

•Strength & Conditioning

•Marching Band

•JROTC Marching

•Summer Camps

•Host various field days for elementary and Fun Run

•Host Veterans day events

•Host graduation/commencement events

•Host Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) events

•Host LP Education Foundation events

About 875 LPHS students (43%) use the stadium daily for various classes

PROPOSITION C: $56M New Bulldog Stadium

• The New Bulldog Stadium would sit on the same site, but include additional seating, a new press box, 8 lane track, and more

• Enhanced safety & security, compliant with ADA accessibility standards, capable of hosting large UIL events, band contest deck, parking, improved site drainage

Tax Impact

• The $235M bond is well within La Porte ISD’s bonding capacity and does not require a tax rate increase.

However, in 2019, House Bill 3 was adopted, which requires the below ballot language for all school bond elections, regardless of the actual impact on the district’s tax rate.

VOTING INFO

▪ Deadline to Call the Election: Friday, February 17

▪ Deadline to Register to Vote: Thursday, April 6

▪ Early Voting: Monday, April 24 – Tuesday, May 2

▪ Election Day: Saturday, May 6, 2023

Question/ Responses

Bulldog Stadium Tour