Carroll Independent School District

We Need Your Feedback!

It doesn't matter if you voted yes, no or not at all in the February 4, 2006
school bond election, Carroll ISD wants your input!

We are seeking feedback on the Proposition 2 - Instructional Technology Package that failed in the February 4 school bond election election. Use the E-mail link below to give us your feedback.
Tell us why you think the proposition failed, what components you think are absolutely necessary for a future bond package, what information might be helpful to clarify the facts and/or any additional comments you'd like to make about the February 4 election!

Click Here To Submit Your Bond 2006 Feedback To CISD!

What Now? Flyer

School Bond Election Results:

Carroll Voters Approve Proposition 1 - Capital Improvements & Maintenance
Carroll Voters Reject Proposition 2 - Instructional Technology

Click Here For SFebruary 4, 2006 Vote Totals

Bond Facts

Have a question about Carroll ISD's 2006 Bond Election?
E-mail your question to jthannum@cisdmail.com or ingallsh@cisdmail.com

Is the election asking voters' permission to borrow the money for these projects?
That is exactly what a bond election does. We as a school district are asking voters to give us permission to borrow $44 million.

Is it possible for one proposition to fail and one to pass?
Yes. These are stand alone propositions that will be voted on separately by CISD voters. A neighboring school district had that situation happen to them recently. They had several issues on the ballot, but only one passed. They quickly realized that some of the failed items were essential to the successful ones. We have structured our two propositions as stand alone propositions. They are not dependent on one another to be successful.

Is this a stand alone election?
Yes. The two propositions are the only items on the February 4, 2006 ballot. The Board voted unanimously to hold a bond election. There were some different opinions as far as when to call the election date. December, February and May were all discussed. Ultimately, the Board agreed on February 4.

What does a $44 million bond do to the tax rate?
There would be no tax rate increase for a $44 million bond. CISD has also scheduled items to be paid off within the "life" of the equipment. Taxpayers would not be paying 30 years for a computer with a five-year "life". Homeowners would see a tax increase only if their property values went up.

If this bond passed, what would Carroll ISD's bond capacity be?
Carroll ISD currently owes approximately $145 million in bonded indebtedness. Our bond consultants have projected that we could borrow an additional $78 million without increasing the tax rate. If we pass a $44 million bond in February, there should be sufficient capacity (about $34 million) to build or renovate and meet our needs as a school system.

Is bond money subject to Robin Hood (Chapter 41 recapture)?
No. Taxes collected to service the indebtedness of a school district are exempt from Robin Hood recapture.

How does passing a bond not raise taxes?
Payments in debt service are arranged just as a home mortgage is arranged. Payments are made over time with some going to principal and some going to pay for the interest on the loan. The more rapidly we pay back the principal, the less we pay in interest. The current tax rate supplies enough money to service our debt even if we increase it by $44 million in February. Of the proposed bond, our consultants would schedule items to be paid off "within the life" of the equipment. You would not be paying 30 years for a computer with a five-year life. If this bond passes, a taxpayer would only see an increase in the tax bill if his/her property values went up.

How will this bond affect future bonds?
The district's bond consultants determined early on in the Bond Steering Committee's process that the potential existed for borrowing up to $78 million without raising taxes. In addition, the district continues to be able to pay off current bonds at an accelerated pace. Therefore, should there be a need for an additional school or additions to current facilities in the next 3-5 years, the capacity should be available for completing such projects.

Will using this money from the bond election limit or take away money that we could give to our teachers?
No. There are two budgets that a school district uses. An M/O (maintenance and operations) budget and an I/S (interest and sinking) fund. The M/O budget is where salaries are covered. The current tax rate for Carroll's M/O portion of the budget is $1.50. Constitutionally, in the state of Texas, we are at our maximum level. The I/S budget is where bond money is managed. Money from a bond issue cannot be transferred to the M/O side to pay salaries. The reverse is also true.

Does the money just pay down debt and sit there?
No. Money cannot just sit there. It must be used to pay off the indebtedness of the school district. If the bond does not pass, the tax rate could conceivably be reduced by a few pennies even as early as next year. OR, the Board could adopt a more aggressive schedule for repaying the debt.

If both propositions pass, when will they start being implemented?
It takes 40-60 days before CISD would be able to spend the money. There would be a project plan developed for the implementation of all items that would be reflective of the school calendar and the needs at particular schools. You may see some technology pieces such as laptops for teachers quickly while others would come later because they are part of an overall project that takes a bit longer to put together. The construction pieces would obviously take longer as a result of the planning and bidding requirements.

What if the bond doesn't pass? What is the school district's plan B?
The school district would be in a very difficult position. In technology, the district would make every effort to place adequate technology in service for all teachers. Most of the projects under Proposition 1 would be delayed and the district would probably restructure another proposal to take to the voters.

Would the age of the campus determine when the campus would get new computers?
The Bond Steering Committee has recommended that CISD replace the oldest technology first. However, all schools will receive new technology and all schools will begin at the same place. Everyone will be brought to the same standard at the completion of this project.

If Proposition 2 passes, how long would it take for each campus to be equitable in technology?
After a bond passes, it takes between 45 and 60 days to sell the bonds and create cash flow. CISD would start implementing the technology piece shortly after that. We believe that we would have all the schools fully finished and equitable in 24 to 36 months.

We just purchased desktop computers for our (Rockenbaugh) teachers. Will they get a new laptop computer?
Yes. The teachers will get a new laptop if Proposition 2 passes, but the computers that PTO just purchased will still be used for programs at RES.

How will laptops be dealt with? What about theft and breakage issues?
The Bond Steering Committee has had many discussions dealing with laptops for teachers. We did poll the teachers and there was an overwhelming response in favor of providing laptops for teachers. It creates a lot more flexibility for them. The laptops themselves will be branded with our logo and ID. While this may not prevent someone from taking a laptop, it will make it more easily identifiable. We will also need to address policies for breakage and theft.

What would happen to the technology equipment we already have?
All of the equipment at CISD campuses meets our standards and would still be used at that campus. We would use each piece of technology for the life of that equipment.

Are you positioning the district to allow for student laptops? Is there a goal to go paperless?
Society is driving us to a paperless reality. Carroll ISD is trying to keep up with those demands. We are dealing with the student laptop issue in the Technology Committee discussions this year. The group is looking into what it would take to have hot spots districtwide where students could use their laptop computers.

I see Assistive Technology in the bond - what is that?
It is technology that will be implemented for our Special Education students. It will be placed throughout the district to assist students with special needs.

Will you provide training for all this technology?
Yes. We will implement training for all of the new technology. We definitely want our teachers to be able to optimize the use of technology with our students. For example, we have implemented new software called Eduphoria that our administrators are already using. Using a hand-held, our principals are now able to do required teacher observations in a paperless format. For a "walk-through" observation, a principal can enter the data on a hand-held and then go back to their office to sync up with their desktop computer. The teacher is then notified via email that his or her observation is available on a secured website for the teacher to check. This new software with the training has saved our administrators extremely valuable time.

When you purchase the technology, will you use one vendor?
CISD purchases most of its computers through Dell. However, the district is not locked into purchasing from Dell. These bond purchases would be conducted according to state bidding laws.

Did you address software issues as well as hardware issues?
Both hardware and software have been addressed in Proposition 2.

Even if the bond passes, it seems that relief for Carroll High School is too far out. When will the construction be finished at CHS?
The good news is that if the bond passes, we will be proactively solving the capacity issue. If the bond passes, there will be time to plan, get architects involved, and get the bidding process complete. That should all be done by September 2006. The construction should not take any longer than 12 months. So that means that by the school year 2007-2008, students should be in those new classrooms. If the bond fails, we will be in a reactive mode that may require temporary solutions to problems. While these may not be what we desire, we will always seek the best solutions for our needs given the resources we have available.

What would happen to the students during construction at Carroll High School?
The impact to students would be minimal. CISD would arrange the schedule for the library and band hall work to be completed as much as possible during summer months, while work on the additional classrooms, gymnasium and commons area could be addressed during school because these areas could be totally blocked off.

What about being flexible with programs and moving some to the senior high where they do not have a capacity issue?
CISD would look at temporarily switching some things during construction such as the library access or specific programs.

Why is Carroll Intermediate School not currently being used for a school?
The School Board decided to close CIS three years ago to save operational dollars. Most of the students zoned to CIS were reassigned to Durham Intermediate, thus allowing the district to save the cost of an administrative team and substantially reduce the cost of operating the facility.

Could Carroll Intermediate School be used if a new school was needed?
Yes. An architect has inspected the building and found it to be in good structural condition. However, the building would require renovations to the interior.

Is there a chance that Carroll Intermediate School could open as a middle school and add sixth graders?
This issue has not been discussed.

What maintenance plan do we have for Carroll Intermediate School?
Our maintenance plan includes cleaning all of the occupied rooms each day and having a night supervisor walk the building each night. We are committed to protecting our investment.

Will our overcrowding issue bring up the K-6 rezoning issue?
No. The K-6 issue was dealt with two years ago, and CISD does not anticipate revisiting this issue.

Is a modular building the same as a portable?
Yes. A modular building is the same thing as a portable building or classroom.

Why did the School Board and Administration remove the building additions at Eubanks Intermediate, Johnson Elementary and Old Union Elementary Schools from the bond package?
CISD learned of a possible new housing development north of SH 114. The outcome of this development process could mean significant changes in enrollment projections for Carroll ISD. There is no official application on file yet for this development, but City of Southlake officials made CISD officials aware of the possible development. We felt it was in the district's best interest to hold off on building elementary and intermediate additions until we know the outcome of this development process. Instead, portable buildings were added to the bond package as a temporary solution.

What is the cost for a portable building?
The cost for a portable building is about $45,000. CISD should be able to resell portables buildings when we are done using them. This will help us recoup some of our investment.

Does Southlake have a regulation that portable buildings can only be up for two years?
Yes. The City of Southlake does have a limit on the time that a portable building can be in place, but city officials are aware of our situation. We believe there will be some flexibility in the timing as long as the City of Southlake is satisfied that Carroll ISD is moving toward a more permanent classroom solution.

Will this new housing development mean that CISD will need to build a new elementary school?
Maybe. The district has 17.5 acres of land on North White Chapel that it could use if a new school were necessary. We also have about 26 acres of land on East Highland.

How much does it cost to build a new school?
It could cost between $20 and $25 million to build an elementary or an intermediate school. Secondary campuses are much more expensive.

Why were the classrooms taken out of the bond?
Carroll High School's classroom additions are still in the bond. CHS services the whole community and will need the additional space no matter what happens north of SH114. The other schools were taken out of the bond because of the additional students this new development might bring could create a situation where CISD would need to reopen Carroll Intermediate School or build another school. If that were to happen, the additions would no longer be necessary and could sit empty or unused. The Board wanted to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money and, thus, decided to wait until they could see what would be required in the long term.

What exactly is the plan to handle Old Union's capacity issues?
We did not use the growth rate from 2001 because construction of houses was still happening in this school area. The rate of new homes for the OUES zone is stable at the present time, so the student population is not likely to increase at the same rate that it did during the first few years of operation. Our plan for OUES is to watch the growth very carefully and to plan carefully with the assistance of the principal. If OUES exceeds its capacity, the district would place a modular building at that site.

Will the development on Crooked Lane affect the capacity at OUES?
At this time the district does not have enough information about this project to adequately project the number of students to expect from this development.

Will the school district have enough time to react to OUES if overcrowding is an issue?
Yes. The Administration will be working very closely with the Administration of OUES. If a modular building is needed, it can be in place within 30 to 45 days.

Would it be possible for PTOs to raise money for some of the technology items in the bond and save that money for the possibility of OUES needing relief from overcrowding?
The PTOs have done a great job in CISD. The Administration has been grateful for the items that they have provided. However, if the district sets the standards for equipment, it is the district's responsibility to pay for it.

Could you move the Pre-K classes out of Old Union to make space at that campus?
No because the pre-K program at OUES is not housed in regular classrooms at this time. The two rooms being used for the program were designed for other uses outside the regular classroom setting.

So Proposition 1 is only giving Johnson Elementary School one modular classroom?
The bond will give Johnson one modular building, which is two classrooms.

Will you move the preschool out of Johnson Elementary to make more classroom space?
If there is a need to move the preschool classes out of Johnson, we can relocate them elsewhere in the district.

Can you give some clarity regarding the pre-K classes?
The program was started as a means to address a particular segment of our special needs population. The goal was to have regular education children and special needs students together. Research shows that this mix is very beneficial to the gains of special needs students, particularly at this age level. Our regular education students pay tuition and IDEA funds pay for our special needs children. This program has become very popular over the past three years with new sections added each school term to the current level of nine classes, but we do not see the program exceeding 15 sections.

Are the birth to three year olds handled at Johnson?
Programs such as speech therapy that are offered to children under 4 are "walk in" type services. They come in to see the specialist and go home. They are not in an all day program.

Are these pre-K classes held at all the elementary schools around the district so that the special needs kids will stay at the particular school for elementary?
We do not guarantee them that elementary school for their educational program. We currently have Pre-K classes on only four of our five elementary campuses. Another option would be to centrally locate this program in the district.

What happened to the property the school district owned north of 114?
The school district still owns property north of SH 114 and it is still designated as a potential school site. Whether a school is built on that property at some time in the future will depend on the needs of the district. The Board has declared one piece of property on Peytonville as surplus and there is a bid packet available for the purchase of that land. The land on White Chapel and the land on East Highland are still district property and could be used for school sites.

Was there a connection between the Adventerra property news and the decision to put modular buildings on school sites?
Yes. The Administration and School Board want to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money. We felt it prudent to address the over crowding issues at K-4 and 5-6 with temporary solutions and wait to see what develops in that property. If, at some point in the near future, CISD would need to build a new school or reopen CIS, we could have been faced with having additions that would no longer be needed. Using modular buildings over a short time span (3-5 years) is a relatively inexpensive strategy since we can recover some of our investment once the buildings are no longer needed.

How long will it be until we know how many homes the City of Southlake agrees to put on the property north of SH 114?
Carroll ISD will know in the next 8 to 12 months what the builder's plans are for that development. The City of Southlake has also made it very clear that CISD will have a place at the negotiation table so there will not be any surprises to the school district during this process.

Is the development north of SH 114 going to readdress the intermediate issue at Durham Intermediate School?
Depending on the growth that CISD experiences the district could choose any of several different options. The district may go back to the original plans from this bond proposal to build eight classrooms at Eubanks. The district could renovate and reopen Carroll Intermediate. We simply need to see what happens with the development and then address it in a practical way with a long-term solution.

The chart shows that Eubanks Intermediate is over capacity by 16 children - how far under capacity is Durham Intermediate School?
Durham Intermediate is about 150-170 under capacity. However, we must always keep in mind that capacity numbers are based on using each chair in each classroom until full. Reality does not work that way. For that reason, issues often begin to develop as you approach capacity and the district must have a plan to handle the capacity challenges before they become a real problem.

Has there been a resolution to the "disputed territory" with Northwest ISD?
No. Carroll ISD has been negotiating with Northwest officials for several months. However, recently Northwest asked for a summary judgment from the court. Negotiations have been suspended until that is decided. CISD should have an answer by the end of this calendar year. The School Board did open enrollment up to all children who live in Clariden Ranch or have a contract to build in Clariden Ranch for a short period during the month of August. About 16 to 20 children took advantage of that option and came to CISD. Students in the narrow strip of land that is referred to as the "disputed territory" are still eligible to attend Carroll schools at any time.

When the HVAC is installed at Durham, will there be mold testing done to resolve the mold issues at DES?
There are currently no mold issues that we are aware of at Durham Elementary. We still do periodic testing to ensure that Durham's air environment is safe. When the HVAC system is replaced, the ducts will certainly be tested for any air quality issues.

Will the cafeteria at Durham still service both the elementary and intermediate side?
Yes. the cafeteria was designed to serve both sides. The new equipment installed at this location will help the lines be more efficient and, hopefully, create more efficient use of the time available for lunch.

Will Durham Elementary and Durham Intermediate have input in how the cafe is set up and run?
The Administration always works closely with the schools for input. The central administration and the campus administrations will work together on each piece of the bond, not just the cafeteria.

Does a new bus fleet save us money?
Yes. It does save the district money in several ways. The first is that a diesel bus gets 8 to 10 miles a gallon versus a gasoline bus which only gets 4 to 5 miles per gallon. The second way is that a diesel bus is easier and less costly to fix. And finally, a diesel bus will last 14 years while a gasoline bus typically lasts only 10 years.

Doesn't CISD have insurance to cover the cost of roof replacements?
Insurance does not cover the cost to replace a roof because of age. In addition, our insurance is based on a deductible of $100,000 which means that insurance dollars do not provide support unless the damage to a facility is substantial.

Would you replace whole air conditioning units and duct work?
We would replace an entire system. In some instances, the accompanying duct work is replaced and in others the duct work is still serviceable. In those instances, the ducts work is reused. The most immediate replacement projects under this proposal would be Carroll Senior High and Durham.

Will the new sidewalks decrease the amount of buses we need?
I do not believe that it will significantly impact the amount of riders that use the bus. There were only about 20 walkers at Durham Intermediate the other day. Over time, that could change. The size of the current bus fleet, however, is a good fit for our district over the long haul.

Does anyone ride a bus to Johnson. It seems that they all drive; is that true? Perhaps we can get a grant from "Safe Neighborhoods" for trails.
We do have about six buses going to Johnson every day. We did have the city expand a sidewalk over by Old Union to make walking feasible for some of their students, but we have not seen an increase in walkers.

Which libraries in the district will be expanded?
Only Carroll High School will actually have floor space added. The following libraries will receive additional books to bring their inventory up to exemplary levels: Carroll High School, Carroll Senior High School, Carroll Middle School, Dawson Middle School, Eubanks Intermediate School and Johnson Elementary School.

Wasn't the library at Carroll Middle School supposed to be expanded in this bond?
CISD discussed that expansion, however, principal Kenneth Anderson did not want to give up any classrooms in order to gain the space in the library. The library is slated to gain volumes, but not square footage.

How much detail will the average voter get about the bond?
CISD will provide the voters with as much information as they desire. We have a bond website that is in place and expanding every day. It will have a multitude of information regarding both propositions. In addition, we will focus information at each location that is specific to the projects to be completed at that site.

How are you getting all of the bond information to the public?
The communications plan uses a variety of communication methods to spread word about the February 4 election. Meetings are being held with each PTO and PTSO in the district. Each campus will also have a faculty member who served on the Bond Steering Committee. They will review bond projects with employees. The Superintendent has met with the City Council and there will be other city-wide events sponsored by the district for informational purposes. We have bond flyers, posters, yard signs (reminding people to vote) and a number of mailouts planned. There will be large presentation boards placed at the main entrance to every building in the district. These will detail the specific projects that campus will receive in the bond package.

How much does an electronic key system save money?
The electronic key system provides management capabilities more than cost savings. We are able to know who was in the a building at what time. The cost savings would be when a key is lost, a lock or many locks would have to be replaced. When an electronic card is lost, it could be deactivated from the computer.

Is this a system that would buzz parents into the building?
No. It would funnel all traffic through the front door by alerting the office if any side doors were open or unlocked.

Is the keyless entry a very expensive item?
The total for a keyless entry system as well as cameras at each school site is around one million dollars total.

Would Dawson Middle School become a "joint-use facility" if they were given a second gymnasium?
The gym would be more to manage the amount of children and programs currently housed at Dawson.

How much is the drainage proposal for Durham's building?
This project would cost about $500,000.

Who will be the contractor for Durham Intermediate School?
This project will be put out to bid. Huckabee and Associates is the architectural firm that CISD is currently using. Architectural design is a professional service; therefore, CISD will be able to choose them without a bid.

Does this bond make you anxious? (asked of Harry Ingalls, Assistant Superintendent for Operations)
I have been through a major bond issue before in my previous school district. We passed a $300 million bond that included 70 roofs as well as technology network upgrades at 102 school campuses. So I am not anxious regarding the bond, just vigilant.

Have you had any concerns from the community feedback?
The Old Union Elementary PTO had some questions regarding the modification to the expansion at their campus. Their primary concern centered on understanding the Board's decision to amend the original recommendation from the Bond Steering Committee.

Security cameras seem extravagant.
Security cameras are a relatively inexpensive item as far as this total package is concerned. The entire recommendation of the safety and security subcommittee comes to only about $1 million.

Who would be responsible for monitoring the safety cameras that would be placed on campuses?
The people responsible for monitoring would be a staff member at the school as well as central administration. The police would also be able to tap into our camera system if they ever had a need. If would put less pressure on the current staff at the schools because one person could monitor many places at the same time through remote management capabilities.