Rumor vs. Fact

AISD PRESS RELEASE

Rumor: Based on the states student to teacher ratios, if the Alvin ISD Bond Election fails the State will build schools to accommodate overcrowding.
Fact: Alvin ISD is currently dealing with over-crowding at half of the District’s campuses. After a school district bond issue is passed the State may provide support to the school district that will lessen the tax burden and improve the district's bond rating which may result in lowering the bond interest rate. However, when a bond issue does not pass, the state does not provide any additional funding or support. The District would accommodate the addition of 900 students a year with the purchase and utilization of temporary classroom buildings at existing campuses.

Rumor: Alvin ISD debt is $483,626,570.50 with a per student debt of $25,770.00
Fact: The most recent Alvin ISD audited financial records indicate the District currently has a principal debt of $311,612,987 with a debt per student of $16,499.68. When comparing Alvin ISD to other Texas districts that have grown by more than 5,000 students since 2002-2003, with a debt of $100M, the average debt per student debt is $18,156 while Alvin ISD’s figure is less than $16,500.

Rumor: The location of the new [Manvel] Jr. High is good for AISD but not for the community they serve.
Fact: Alvin ISD Jr High Campuses are built for 1,000 students yet Nolan Ryan Jr. high currently serves 1,185 and Manvel Jr. High at Rodeo Palms, which opened last year, already serves 883 students. By 2016, Templeton Demographics projects these two schools are projected to serve 2,477 students, 477 over capacity.

The utilization of property just north of Manvel High School was deemed as an ideal location for the students of Alvin ISD after a multi-year land search. The construction of Manvel Jr. High on this site already owned by the District will reduce the cost of land and adequate drainage, which in turn saves tax payers money. Additionally, this location provides the needed infrastructure such as roads, utilities, water and sewer. The District commissioned an in-depth traffic analysis to ensure that traffic at McCoy Rd. and Hwy 6 would be acceptable. The combination of staggered school start and end times at Manvel High School and the proposed Manvel Jr. High, in conjunction with minor adjustments to driveways and turn lanes ensures the community will not see a substantial impact to the traffic in the area.

Rumor: AISD has $28 million dollars in their slush fund.
Fact: Alvin ISD does not have a slush fund of any kind. Each year the District undergoes the mandatory scrutiny of an outside auditing firm to review the Districts financial records. A public hearing was held on October 8, 2013 to share that the District received a Superior Score on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.

The District maintains a fund balance; however, this is not synonymous with available funds. The state of Texas recommends that the District maintains up to three months of available operating expenses in the fund balance. Also calculated into this account is uncollected taxes and property held in trust, as well as required reserves for various insurance accounts.

The Board of Trustees recently reviewed the funds currently in the fund balance to determine what was available for current use. Out of the District’s current fund balance, $38M is held for future operating expenses and contingencies in accordance with state recommendations, $14M has been committed to the construction, furniture and fixtures for Elementary #15 (opening in Fall 2014), $3.1M for preconstruction of High School #3 and $1.1M for the preconstruction of the new Manvel Jr. High. Additionally the Board of Trustees has allocated $8.6M toward current bond projects such as technology and band instruments. A remaining district fund balance of *$11M remains to respond to any unanticipated expenses for our 22 schools.

(*TEA has indicated approximately $8M dollars must be returned for overpayment which will be accounted for in the 2012-2013 audit)

Rumor: Projects such as technology, band instruments and buses will be financed for 20 years.
Fact: Technology projects including network infrastructure and computers, as well as band instruments will be funded with the current fund balance or the current Maintenance and Operations budget. No bond funds will be used for these projects.

The Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommended the purchase of school buses totaling $5M. The District will use $2.2M from the current maintenance and operations budget to purchase buses with the remaining $2.8M provided through the bond election. The District utilizes bonds that will range from as short as 1 year to as long as 25 years depending on multiple variables.

Rumor: “Alvin ISD has been waiting to get a multi-million dollar district stadium for years, they are trying to sneak it in the back door and get over on voters” & “Alvin ISD Plans to build a stadium west of 288 and north of 518.”
Fact: Alvin ISD has shared a great deal of information about the project described as “land, design, & related costs for additional district athletic stadium, natatorium, & satellite transportation facility.” This project was a recommendation of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee and has been included on all Alvin ISD Bond publications including the District website (alvinisd.net/bond2013) as well as multiple newspaper ads.

Alvin Memorial Stadium is only able to accommodate 2,500 spectators on the visitor’s side and due to a lack of space has no room to expand. The District has been forced to turn parents and spectators away from games due to limited capacity. There are no plans to discontinue the use of Alvin Memorial Stadium. The acquisition of land will allow the District to plan for the future as the limitations become more evident.

This project along with all other recommended projects was included in a community phone survey that was conducted by Baselice, Inc. All projects included in the bond election received favorable community responses. The survey results for all projects are available on the Districts website under Bond FAQs.

The District has not identified a piece of land and it would be pre-mature to speculate a specific area as the project has not been approved by voters and speculation could inflate the cost of land. The District will make every effort to centralize the location within the 252 sq. mile district. There have been no discussions to place this district facility north of 518 as that would not provide equitable access to our students and their families.

Opinion: We do not need to move the Alvin High School Ag Farm at a cost of millions of dollars when we already have one.
Consideration: The growing Alvin High School Ag Program currently serves 400 students and has exceeded the capacity of the structure donated to Alvin ISD by the Godwin Family 30 years ago.

The facilities capacity limits additional animal projects with some animals already doubled up in pens. Transportation to the facility requires a 24 minute bus ride which uses nearly half of the student’s instructional class time. The facility does not include a covered show area and limits instructional space. The location of the current site is also utilized for oil production and has the associated equipment and has continual access by oil field personnel.

The Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommendation was to construct an Ag Facility that is equitable to the facility utilized by students at Manvel High School, with the addition of a district show arena that can be used for district contests as well as instruction. The recommendation was to place the facility closer to Alvin High School, as opposed to making a sizable investment at a location that provides continued limitations.

West Pearland High School goes to AISD voters

AISD in the news!

Construction of a proposed high school for west Pearland students zoned to Alvin Independent School District as well as other construction projects and campus upgrades hangs in the balance with voters set to decide the fate of a school bond proposal of roughly $212.4 million on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“Community members along the 288 corridor continue to ask when the tract of land at the intersection of 518 and Kirby will be turned into a high school to serve the Shadow Creek and surrounding areas,” said district spokesman Daniel Combs. “Alvin ISD purchased the 70 acre site across from the Pearland Town Center as part of the approved 2009 Alvin ISD Bond Election.”

If approved, construction would begin immediately with classes at the new school expected to begin at the start of the 2016-17 school year.

Otherwise, west Pearland students would continue commuting to Manvel High School, which officials say is already above enrollment capacity with more students expected next year.

“Students in the Shadow Creek and surrounding developments currently attend Manvel High School, which was constructed by Alvin ISD in 2006. The student enrollment at Manvel High School has already exceeded 2,500 student capacity and a third high school will accommodate the growth of Alvin ISD which is growing by more than 900 students a year,” Combs said.

The bond proposal totals approximately $212.6 million and includes campus security upgrades, a transportation substation, junior high and elementary school construction projects, land and design costs for a new athletic stadium and a new career and technical training high school among other things.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5 for voters who live in the Alvin ISD attendance zone. For voting times and locations and complete details on the bond proposal, visit www.alvinisd.net/bond2013 or call 281-245-2463.

Early Voting has begun!!

Early voting has begun on Oct 21st. It has been very encouraging to see all the folks at the polling stations. We need each and every one of you to go vote! Say Yes! An investment in schools is equivalent to an investment in your kids' education, in your property values and to your community as a whole! Please find an early voting location close to you and make your voice heard.

Letters to the editor - 4

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

October 17, 2013

 

Dear Editor,

The voters in Alvin ISD should know the facts about the November 5 bond election, especially about the new junior high in Manvel. The combined student capacity at Manvel Jr. High at Rodeo Palms and Nolan Ryan Jr. High  is 2,000 students, but currently has 2,067 with a projection of 2,300 by 2015.  It is essential that this school be built because of the shortage of classroom seats and the educational hardship it will place on our kids if we don’t.

What are the facts about the decision to locate Manvel Junior High on McCoy Rd. and what is the traffic impact? Alvin ISD owns land just north of Manvel High School and after a two year search, which included collaboration and input from Manvel city officials, the site was chosen because it has the roads, public water and sewer, utilities, drainage and ground elevation above the flood plain. Roads and utilities are a necessity that is not readily available in all areas of Manvel. Since Alvin ISD owns the property it eliminates the need for additional money to buy new land. The most important reason though - this location is what’s best for kids! 

TxDOT owns and controls the light at the intersection of Hwy. 6 and McCoy Rd. and recently made adjustments to the traffic light’s timing and detection controls  to improve traffic cycles at peak school hours.  A professional traffic study for the school site on McCoy Rd. was commissioned by Alvin ISD to analyze traffic patterns, roadways, and assure that mobility standards are met. It included analyzing Manvel High School’s traffic as well.  The study revealed that peak traffic hours are 7:40 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. Afternoon traffic peak times last from 2:50 dismissal until “all clear” by 3:06, which is pretty quick for a high school with 2,500+ students and staff. It takes almost that long to turn east out of Manvel City Hall at 4:30 p.m.

Start and dismissal times for the new junior high are 8:40 a.m. and 4 p.m. and will occur an hour later than the high school start and dismissal times. With an hour difference in these times, peak traffic times will not stack or overlap.

The study provided recommendations for driveways, turn lanes, and  minor adjustments to public streets to facilitate the traffic on McCoy Rd. All the information in the traffic study was shared with the City Manager and City Engineer of Manvel. TxDOT and the Traffic Engineer concur that traffic management and traffic volumes from the schools on McCoy Rd meet or exceed acceptable guidelines.

The 2013 Citizen’s Advisory Committee and similar groups in 2009 and 2011, as well as the 2013 public survey, support building this junior high in Manvel. I think people should know the facts and be informed.  Distorting the facts only creates confusion.  An educated vote favors the well-being of our kids and community and supports the need to build this new junior high in Manvel.

 

Amy Roudbari

If bond election passes, when will High School #3 open?

This is a very popular question that a lot of people have asked in the run up to the Alvin ISD bond election on 05-Nov-2013: If the bond election is passed, when will High School #3 open?

Alvin ISD expects construction of High School #3 to begin immediately. The Alvin ISD Board of Trustees has already commissioned an architect firm to work on the design of the facility. If the construction proceeds according to plan, the projected opening of the school is the 2016-2017 school year.  This is based on the length of time it takes to construct a facility of this magnitude.  At the October Board Meeting, the Alvin ISD Board approved a construction manager at-risk for this project.

The two-year construction timeframe is very much in line with construction of similar high school facilities elsewhere in the country.

On a related topic, Manvel Junior High at Rodeo Palms currently serves Manvel as well as areas west of 288.  There is no other Junior High serving the Manvel Area. With the completion of a new Manvel Junior High, the current junior high at Rodeo Palms campus will become Rodeo Palms Junior High and it will provide a great deal of relief to Nolan Ryan Junior High. Construction would begin immediately for a projected opening date of 2015-2016 school year.

We hope all residents of Alvin ISD will support the bond election in this exciting time for the Alvin school district. Investment in schools and our children secures the future of the entire community and our society.

Letters to the editor - 3

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

September  25, 2013

Dear Editor,

Alvin ISD, parts of which are on the west side of Pearland,  is one of the fastest growing school districts in the Houston area and has done a good job of keeping up with the growth over the last decade. We must help continue that trend so that overcrowding can be prevented, appropriate buildings and classrooms can be provided, travel distances between home and school can be limited, our investment in our school facilities can be protected and personal property values can be strengthened.  Investing in our schools is an investment in our community because appropriate and attractive school buildings are the centers of the community. They reflect our community’s values and they protect property values. They are an investment in our children, our community, and our future.

There are parts of Alvin ISD that are in the city limits of Pearland. Specifically, the Shadow Creek Ranch, Southern Trail and Pearland Town Center area where Alvin ISD has land designated for a third high school. A bond election will be held on November 5, 2013 that includes construction of the third Alvin ISD high school and much more. All of the projects will improve our children’s learning environments , equip our students for college and a competitive workplace with upgraded technology,  keep pace with the growth of our district by building new schools and protect our children with enhanced safety and security at all campuses. A complete list of all the projects can be founded at www.alvinisd.net.

Keeping up is much more cost-effective than catching up and keeping up with growth, something Alvin ISD has done extremely well, is much more cost-effective than the

alternative. Our school leaders would not be asking taxpayers for these funds if they weren’t critical to the long-term health of our schools. They’ve done their homework. Our school leaders are making the best decisions for students and taxpayers. We have good people running our school district who understand the need to stretch every tax dollar to its limit. Alvin ISD leaders, who are taxpayers themselves, are making the best decisions possible with our dollars. That’s why the state of Texas gives Alvin ISD a Superior Achievement Rating for fiscal responsibility.

So what is the  projected tax impact? The average homeowner will see an increase of no more than $11.22 a month and if you are 65 years of age or over, your taxes will not increase as a result of this bond election. The school tax rate and the amount paid are frozen when a taxpayer turns 65 years old, but you must request this status by contacting the Brazoria County Appraisal District  at http://www.brazoriacad.org or  call (979) 849-7792. I urge you to study the proposal and vote yes on November 5. Early voting starts October 21. To learn more, go to www.voteyesalvinisdbond.com.

Shirley Brothers

Letters to the editor - 2

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

September 25, 2013

Dear Editor,

 Alvin ISD has a bond election coming up on November 5, 2013, with early voting starting on October 21. I hope you will join me in voting YES for this important bond issue. Many have asked “what if we do nothing?”  Based upon the current growth in student enrollment and the projections of more students coming, Alvin ISD will gain more that 3200 new students before new and/or additional facilities would be available if this bond issue is not passed this year. Each year that it is delayed, Alvin ISD is projected to add another 800 students (that is equivalent to an elementary school a year).  If the bond issue does not pass, prolonged use of temporary buildings will be necessary and their  use can be as much as $35,000 per unit. Building permanent classroom space keeps the district from spending money for the same space multiple times. Also if it does not pass, adjusting student attendance zones will become necessary as schools exceed their capacity, which requires additional bussing of students. Many campuses are already over capacity and more campuses will become overcrowded if the bond issue is not passed this year. Security concerns that can only be addressed with extensive facility and equipment improvements are best provided with bond funds, so not passing this bond issue limits what the district can do in terms of providing needed safety projects. A successful bond issue this year is the fastest way to address safety concerns which are priorities. Consider too, that if this bond issue does not pass, teachers will have limited resources to incorporate technology into instruction as they prepare our students for this digital society.  Providing additional facilities for Career and Technical (vocational) Education is critical and if the bond issue does not pass, course offerings and the district’s ability to offer industry skills and certification programs will be limited. With the resurgence of the construction industry and the potential increase in interest rates, facility costs will be impacted if the bond issue is not passed. It’s also very possible that class size and teacher-student ratios could be impacted if it does not pass. There are even more issues that are a stake if this bond issue does not pass, but I think you get the picture. This bond issue is critical to this community, to our school district, to our kids and to their future. Please join me in voting YES on November 5 (or at an early voting location beginning October 21). It’s what’s best for kids and what’s best for our community. 

David Becker