Latest news with #GreenvilleISD
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenville ISD officials work to pay down debt ahead of a potential bond effort
At their meeting in April, the Greenville ISD Board of Trustees worked on reducing the district's debt burden. For the fourth time in five years, the board voted to refinance and/or pay off outstanding bonds ahead of schedule. On May 22, that early defeasance of bonds was finalized, Through those four defeasances, through a combination of scheduled payments, refinancing at lower interest rates and early repayments, the district has reduced its total principal and interest obligations by $89.7 million since 2020. At the end of the 2020 fiscal year, the district's outstanding principal balance stood at $73.445 million. By the end of the current fiscal year, that number will be down to $33.635 million – a reduction of more than 50%. In addition to the financial savings, the district has shortened the final maturity date of its outstanding debt by seven years, accelerating its path to full repayment. In addition to paying down its debt, the district is looking to approve a total property tax rate of 94.09 cents per $100 valuation, which would be 2.6 cents lower than it's current rate of 96.69 cents for every $100 that a property is worth. 'These savings reflect our board's commitment to sound financial management and our ongoing responsibility to the taxpayers of Greenville,' said GISD Superintendent Joe Lopez. 'It's about doing what's right for our students, our schools and our community.' GISD's most recent round of debt reduction comes as the district consults with WRA Architects on the planning of a future bond effort. While the firm has recommended that the district take its time with the community surveying, designing and budgeting process, they have estimated that another bond election could likely be called as soon as this November — a decision that would have to be made in August to meet state election requirements. So far this year, GISD officials and WRA have been meeting with a facility planning committee made up of community members, giving them tours of various multiple campuses to give them a better idea of the district's needs. While GISD has not publicly proposed any specific projects for a future bond election, the district's three previous bond attempts – in May 2022, November 2022 and November 2023 – included as their main projects replacements for both the middle school and the early childhood center, because the two existing campuses are 74 years old, deteriorating and out of compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, Texas Education Agency standards and updated building codes.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Facility planning committee to discuss middle school and more at Monday meeting
On Monday, the Greenville ISD Board of Trustees and a facility planning committee made up of community members will meet for one of their discussions about a potential future bond effort. In addition to bond planning, the committee, the board and district staff are also working on developing a long-term facility master plan. Their meetings will take place on different campuses in the district, as they discuss the needs and considerations for each facility. Monday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Greenville Middle School at 3611 Texas St., as replacing the aging 75-year-old-campus was an area of focus in the district's three previous bond attempts in May 2022, November 2022 and November 2023. While GISD has added additional portable buildings to the middle school to increase its capacity, reasons why the district is eager to replace it entirely include the building's age-related deterioration and it being out of compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, Texas Education Agency standards and updated building codes. In the first two bond attempts, the proposed location for a new middle school was nestled against existing neighborhoods to the south of Ridgecrest Road and to the west of Sayle Street, which proved to be a sticking point for voters who lived in and around those neighborhoods. Then, in the most recent bond proposal, the pending location of the new middle school was on land the district owns that is near the Lamar Elementary School campus at 6321 Jack Finney Blvd. So far, in early discussions about a future bond effort, WRA Architects has encouraged the district to use a 'construction manager at risk' delivery method for the design and planning phases of the potential project, which means that a construction manager would be hired to work alongside the architect to help with cost estimation, giving expertise on constructability and (if necessary) advise on how to approach phasing of the project. GISD Superintendent Joe Lopez has also advised that in his experience, school districts that involve a construction manager in the early stages of planning have been more successful in getting bonds passed.
CBS News
28-02-2025
- CBS News
Teachers suspended after students apply tattoos using same needle at Greenville school
Teachers assigned to classrooms where students applied tattoos using temporary ink and the same needle at a Greenville school have been suspended pending the results of an investigation, officials announced Thursday. Due to health and safety concerns, Greenville ISD promptly began investigating allegations at Travis Intermediate School, the district mentioned in a social media update. "The district administration strongly condemns the alleged activities and will not tolerate such conduct," Greenville ISD said in the post. The roles of the suspended teachers will be examined to determine if further disciplinary measures are necessary. The administration also plans to collaborate with law enforcement to identify students involved in the incident, according to the district. "The district shall abide by state law, district policy, and the district's Student Code of Conduct and discipline protocols during this process," Greenville ISD's social media post said. Additionally, the district said a thorough review of Travis Intermediate School will be conducted to ensure the incident was isolated and to prevent it from happening again. "Student safety is our highest priority," the district said.
