(McKinney, TX) A group of parents and community leaders have formed the political action committee (PAC) “Vote FOR McKinney’s Future” to advocate for the passage of the McKinney ISD bond referendum on May 7.
“Vote FOR McKinney’s Future” is a diverse group of parents and McKinney citizens who support the school districts proposed $220 million bond package. Chair of the PAC is Jennifer Gray. Kenneth Ussery is Co-Chair.
The development of the bond package began in February as a group of 103 citizens, teachers, students, parents and administrators known as the Project Kids Committee met for four weeks to review and prioritize projects recommended by the district after a thorough needs assessment by a third-party company. The committee was tasked with prioritizing projects in order to benefit as many children and campuses across the school district as possible. After analyzing financial data, population projections and facilities assessments, the committee compiled a list of priorities that totals $220 million, and includes a 2-cent reduction in the district’s current tax rate.
The bond package was unanimously approved by McKinney ISD’s Board of Trustees and will now go before voters for their ratification on May 7.
“Money Magazine named McKinney the #1 best place to live in 2014 partly because of our excellent school district. The school district is one of the reasons my husband and I have chosen to raise our family in McKinney,” Gray said. “The district has a number of projects that need to be addressed now – safety and security for one – and because we currently don’t have a need to build new schools, I believe the time to tackle these projects is now.”
The 2016 bond package benefits all campuses and touches all students across the district. The highlights of the package include:
- Comprehensive facilities upgrades including HVAC (Heating/AC), plumbing, electrical, energy efficient lighting and roof replacements where needed.
- Renovations and refresh at Glen Oaks Elementary and Valley Creek Elementary. Fine Arts Additions at Cockrill Middle School, Evans Middle School and McKinney Boyd High School. A new 1000 seat auditorium and practice gym will be constructed at McKinney High School.
- Safety and security upgrades, including internal and external security cameras at every campus across the district. In the event of an emergency, MISD Student Resource Officers can view the footage from security cameras inside and outside the schools from laptops inside their police cars.
- Construction of a new maintenance facility and a transportation fueling station.
- Technology updates across the district, which includes instructional technology, technology infrastructure upgrades and One to the World.
- A district-wide stadium / event center, which would seat 12,000 fans and provide 2,400 dedicated parking spaces. The community event center housed inside the stadium is designed to host district and community events and can accommodate 500 to 800 guests.
- Land purchase for future schools
- Elementary #22 planning
The passage of the bond will also provide residents of McKinney ISD a 2-cent decrease in the current tax rate, dropping from .50 to .48 per $100 valuation.
PAC Treasurer Larry Pereira said, “A win for MISD with this bond passage is a win for the City of McKinney, and for McKinney’s kids – both present and future generations. A school district with an excellent academic record, updated technology, safety and security and newer facilities is attractive to employees relocating to the North Texas region.”
Gray said she encourages residents to vote yes on the bond. “This bond benefits every campus and every child in our school district in some way. The technology upgrades prepare our students to be globally competitive for future jobs. Excellent security, in today’s uncertain world, is imperative for the safety of every child,” Gray said. “Let’s keep McKinney exceptional. The time is now.”
Early voting takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, April 25 through Saturday, April 30 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 2 and 3. Election Day is Saturday, May 7 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters may vote at any McKinney ISD middle school (Cockrill, Dowell, Evans, Faubion or Johnson) or at the Collin County elections Office, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite102.
For more details on the bond, visit www.mckinneyisd.net/about/2016bond or “Vote FOR McKinney’s Future” on Facebook.