$13.9 million bond election would double I&S side of tax rate to pay for construction, election May 4

Current traffic flow. Buses on left. Exit from high school parking lot in the center 2 lanes. Student entrance to the high school is on the right. Proposed draft has the buses entering on FM 2200 instead and exiting the center lane(s) onto Hwy 173. The student drop off and pick up would be on the left where the buses currently use. And all high school students would be funneled out by way of the DSAC and Middle School onto FM 2200. If the current speed bumps were left in place the buses would have to go over at least 7 or 8 speed bumps daily.

Architects presented the first drafts of the proposed $13.9 million bond project to Devine ISD campus site based committees the week of February 28 and to the school board on February 25.

This is the first draft of the proposed site plans for the Devine ISD Elementary and Intermediate Schools as presented to the school board on February 25 by the architects Kaarlsen Noonan Rittimann Garcia out (KNRG ARCH ) from Helotes, Texas. It shows the proposed new 11 classroom wing for the 3 and 4 year olds, new administrative offices, secure impact resistant vestibule, full size gym, new parking lots and drop off area at the Elementary , estimated cost of $8.4 million dollars the largest portion of the $13.9 million dollar bond voters will go to the polls about on May 4. Intermediate- It shows the $492,889 impact resistant security vestibule with bullet proof windows hoped for the Intermediate School inside the existing main entrance for guests and visitors to check in.
These first drafts and more can be viewed on devinenews.com in full color as they were presented at the public school board meeting on February 25, 2019. Campus committees are being formed to help with the process, contact the principals if you are interested. Online surveys are being taken on the districts website for each campus, parents and taxpayers are asked to go online and complete their thoughts and comments on school security and communication, and climate at devineisd.org.

Elementary- $8.4 Million Cost
The proposed site plan at the elementary would include new administrative offices and a security vestibule with impact resistant or bulletproof windows, near the new student drop-off and new parent parking.
A new 32-space staff parking lot would be added at the end of the current lot towards the football stadium where the current DYS soccer fields are.
A new full-sized, 7,600 sq. ft. gym (not a small box gym like talked about earlier) would be built next to the offices. The gym would have a full court with 8 foot around, retractable bleachers for only 150 people, two restrooms, and an office. It would not be big enough for Kinder promotion, but full size so could be used for athletic games or practices.
Some of the portable buildings would be relocated during phase 1and removed during the process.
Pre-K playground would be relocated and moved to the end, in the direction of the water tower.
Eleven classrooms would be built to replace the current portables for Pre-K and special needs, with bathrooms in each classroom.
Convert clinic to storage and convert admin to speech in phase 2.
Replace windows with new energy efficient windows in the pathway between current second grade wing and admin wing.

The new proposed site plan shows the high school offices moving downstairs with a secure impact resistant vestibule for visitors to enter with bullet proof windows, among other changes. The little silver window seen on the side of the building would serve as a ticket window so community members can walk up and buy their football and event tickets.
This is the first draft of the proposed site plans for the Devine ISD Elementary and Intermediate Schools as presented to the school board on February 25 by the architects Kaarlsen Noonan Rittimann Garcia out (KNRG ARCH ) from Helotes, Texas. It shows both the middle school and high school campuses and the proposed changes based upon the voters passing a $13.9 Million dollar bond and tax raise. Included are 8 new tennis courts at the top near the DSAC, a new weight room addition, conversion of the kitchen/cafe to an administration and athletic offices, bathrooms, a new elevator, new stairs, new entrance in the middle of the old cafeteria, new visitor parking lot, and a complete makeover of traffic flow. Security is the main issue behind the proposed changes at a cost of $2.1 Million Dollars. A secure impact resistant vestibule would allow visitors to funnel through one entrance with bullet proof windows. Voters will take the issue to the polls on May 4 to decide if they want the tax raise and security suggestions. View this first draft and others online at devinenews.com in full color. They were presented at a public school board meeting on Feb. 25, 2019. DISD is looking for comments and suggesting parents and taxpayers take an online survey on their website devineisd.org. The quick 10 question survey also asks for comments at the end on school climate, changes, communication and security. Speak up now.

High School – $2.1 Million Cost
The proposed site plan on the first draft for the high school included major changes to move the administrative offices downstairs into the old cafeteria area which currently houses a small weight room mainly used by the girls. A new elevator, elevator equipment room, new stairs next to the new elevator, bathrooms, athletic director’s office, and secretary’s office with a walk-up window to sell football and event tickets. Their currently is a silver metal slide up window that was used many years ago for a concession stand of sorts at lunchtime. It is located near the current front stairway and entry way.
Also included on the site plan is a proposed new weight room, 2,500 sq. ft. addition near the back of existing workout building and weight room. Current girl’s weight room would need to be relocated if the offices moved downstairs as drawn.
A new student drop-off would be where the current bus circle is. Traffic flow changes seem challenging. The buses would enter off FM 2200 and travel over 5 or 6 speed bumps through the rear of the middle school past the DSAC to a new bus pickup just outside the old gym. A new student crosswalk would funnel kids to parking lot instead of allowing them to go to cars all along the gym sidewalk, a new fence would be put up to stop them from crossing is those areas. A control gate would be placed at the end of the parking lot towards the DSAC to control traffic flow and have all the students exit towards the DSAC to FM 2200. A new right turn lane could be added at the end of the drive so students could exit onto FM 2200. These are just some of the proposed ideas. More information and draft pictures will be published as available.
New parent and visitor parking lot in front of the school. Parents and visitors would enter and exit where the current bus circle is. The buses would exit onto HWY 173 from the center lane. The right lane would be a student entrance, the one closest to the softball field.
New flag pole with walkway out front.
It is unknown at this time what the current high school administrative office and staff area would be used for.
Tennis Courts – $1.5 Million Cost
Site draft includes a new 8-court tennis court to be built at the end of the DSAC parking lot and include a breezeway and storage. No restrooms at this time, but bleachers may be a possibility or fans can bring chairs. Restrooms at the DSAC could be used during tennis tournaments like they are for basketball tourneys.
Intermediate – $492,889 Cost
Install new security vestibule inside the entry way to the current front entrance. It would include impact resistant bulletproof windows and an 8 inch CMU Wall on the gym vestibule side. Doors exit into the hall way corridor and a new door added to waiting area.
Middle School – $419,556 Cost
The proposed floor plan includes 1,295 square foot addition to each the boy’s locker room and also one on the girl’s locker room side.
Election Dates
Early voting will be on April 22-26 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and then two days with extended early and late hours on Monday and Tuesday, April 29-30 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Devine City Hall. Election Day is Saturday, May 4 from 7am to 7pm at City Hall as well.
Who can Vote:
ALL registered voters residing in Devine ISD boundaries can vote.
How would it affect taxes?
If voters approve of the $13.9 Million Dollar Bond, the I&S tax rate will be almost double what the current I&S tax rate is at .165 for year 2019.
In 2020 the tax rate would jump to .2468 and then .3273 in 2021, practically double what the tax rate of this year 2019 is from .165 to .3273! A very slight decrease in 2022 to a rate of .3121.
More detailed information to come on the cumulative tax rate and effect on taxpayers and proposed ideas on what the bond money would be used on.
A district’s property tax rate consists of a maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate and, if applicable, an interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate. The M&O tax rate provides funds for maintenance and operations. The I&S tax rate provides funds for payments on the debt that finances a district’s facilities. The calculation of state funding for school districts is tied to tax effort; thus, tax rates provide an essential component in the state’s school finance formulas.
Next regular school board meeting should be the 3rd Monday of the month on March 18 unless there is a special or called meeting sooner.
Online Survey- School wants to hear from you
DISD sent out parent surveys this week to seek opinions to improve the climate and safety of Devine schools. It is a short 10 question survey with a comment section at the bottom for suggestions and feedback.
According to an email from DISD…We want to hear what you think about your child’s school! This year we are encouraging parents to complete their surveys online. Please fill out one survey per campus. Please let us know what is good and what isn’t, so we can work to make our school better. Your feedback is very important. If you would like to participate, please select the link below. We value your opinion about your child’s school and will use the information to help improve the climate and safety of our schools.
For convenience, a computer lab at each campus was available for parents to complete the parent climate survey the night of Open House.
The survey is also located on the district website and can be accessed at devineisd.org. Fill out a survey for each campus you would like. They are anonymous, just the campus is identified.
By Kathleen Calame
Publisher