Vote For Frisco ISD is focused on ensuring the Frisco ISD community is properly informed about the importance of supporting the upcoming 2024 Bond and VATRE, both of which are vital to supporting our District's critical needs. Vote For Frisco ISD is focused on informing Frisco ISD voters about the importance of supporting the 2024 Bond and VATRE, which collaboratively will provide cost-effective s
olutions throughout the district including general maintenance and essential campus improvements on aging campuses, technology upgrades, safety and security updates and enhanced quality programs for students, as well as increasing pay for our educators to be more competitive. With 20 campuses approaching or surpassing 25 years of age, it is critical that the district have the necessary funds to address and update aging campus infrastructure and systems such as HVAC, roofing, electrical and plumbing systems. These aging systems cause ongoing operational challenges and create inefficiencies that drain valuable resources. The benefits of making these life cycle replacements possible will be felt immediately and translate into significant savings, which can therefore be reinvested into educating our students. The list of campuses that will be approaching 25 years of age and impacted by this 5 year bond program include:
Ashley Elementary, Boals Elementary, Bledsoe Elementary, Borchardt Elementary, Bright Academy, Gunstream Elementary, Isbell Elementary, Pink Elementary, Riddle Elementary, Shawnee Trail Elementary, Sparks Elementary, Fisher Elementary, Spears Elementary, Clark Middle School, Griffin Middle School, Pioneer Heritage Middle School, Roach Middle School, Wester Middle School, Centennial High School and Frisco High School. A replacement campus for Frisco ISD's oldest middle school, Staley Middle School, is also included in the bond program and is in fact, the only new building in the program. By replacing Staley with a new, modern facility, it will better meet the needs of students and staff, while also creating a safer and more effective learning environment for the Staley community, beyond the scope of what a renovation of Staley could possibly achieve. As an added bonus, the current Staley campus would be repurposed for Frisco ISD's ASPIRE program, a special education program that provides transition services and supports in classroom and community settings to students with disabilities, ages 18 to 22, who have completed all state and local required coursework and assessments for graduation and are needing continued instruction in expanded independence, self-advocacy skills, pre-vocational and vocational, and social and community integration during their final years of public schooling. Safety and Security is always the highest priority in Frisco ISD and this bond program will significantly enhance safety and emergency service capabilities districtwide. It includes critical upgrades to surveillance cameras, servers and alert systems, providing more robust monitoring, faster response times and improved communication in emergencies, all of which are an investment in peace of mind, knowing that our students and staff are safeguarded by state-of-the-art technology. Improved technology infrastructure, including enhanced speed, connectivity reliability and upgraded security will give our teachers and students faster access to digital learning tools and safeguard our network against emerging cyber threats. These enhancements are essential for creating a learning environment that supports innovation, collaboration and safety for the entire district. The technology program will also provide replacement devices for staff and students on a five-year rotation schedule, as well as a network update and adding more wireless access points. Frisco ISD is one of the largest, highest rated school districts in the state of Texas. our success is built on a foundation of high standards and innovating programs, however, maintaining this level of academic excellence requires sustained investment in the programs and resources that make Frisco ISD such a special place to learn. Competitive salaries for teachers are more crucial than ever because of our current economic climate. Costs have gone up nearly 20% due to inflation over the last five years, while at the same time the state has not increased basic allotment funding. This has put a strain on district resources, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the high-quality programs and services that our students and staff need and expect. In order to bridge the funding shortfall, A VATRE (voter approval tax rate election) will be on the ballot. A VATRE is an election required by the state that asks voters to consider approving a modified tax rate to increase revenue for student programs, as well as teacher and staff salaries. Frisco ISD voters approved an increase to the tax rate in 2018, however since then the state has compressed the tax rate by more than the amount of that increase, therefore reducing the financial impact of what voters in 2018 approved. This current proposal simply asks voters to restore a portion of what was previously approved. By approving this measure and voting FOR the VATRE, we are taking proactive steps to bridge the funding shortfall and asking voters to reaffirm the community's commitment to providing the resources that our students and teachers need and ensuring that Frisco ISD will be one of the best districts in the state. Teacher salaries are more crucial than ever in this economic climate and approving the VATRE will ensure that we are not only acknowledging the invaluable contributions that educators make every day, but also securing a strong, dedicated workforce that drives our students' success. Because of Frisco ISD's AAA bond rating, AA+ underlying credit rating affirmed by Standard & Poor's, Aa1 underlying credit rating affirmed by Moody's Investor Services and that we have one of the lowest tax rates in the area, Frisco ISD can fund all of the proposals in the Bond & VATRE with less than a 3-cent tax rate increase. It's also important to understand that placing renovations and maintenance projects in a bond proposal benefits both tax-payers and the district because by funding them through a bond, we avoid straining the maintenance and operations budget, which is crucial for paying teacher salaries and supporting educational programs. This is a political ad paid for by Vote FOR Frisco ISD, PAC.
