BISD Board explores master plan for district-wide facilities improvements

The BISD School Board held a special called board meeting on Tuesday, March 2 with two main agenda items.

In the first, the Board learned that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has notified the district that, due to an increase in property values, BISD will be reclassified as a Chapter 41 school, or a school which must give funds back to the state to be distributed to poorer schools under Texas' "Robin Hood" policy. Superintendent Jackie Thomason explained that the state is looking at two-yearcept old data collected during the local oil/gas boom, and he predicted, "When they get our new data they'll say we're NOT a Chapter 41 school." Nevertheless, at this time the Board had to select one of five options for sending approximately $58,000 to TEA. They voted for Option #3, purchasing attendance credits to give the money back next September. The State will withhold entitlement funds which they would have sent throughout the year.

The second agenda item was consideration of a master plan for future athletic facilities and renovation of existing

educational facilities. With an eye toward spending the district's collected tax funds locally, rather than seeing it go back to the State, the Board is beginning to explore options for athletic facilities at the new campus, building improvements at the existing high school and elementary campuses, and completing a road that will link Highway 164 to the new school. Tuesday's meeting included a presentation by representatives of ATG Sports with a design concept for an all-weather track facility and football field with synthetic turf. Stadium seating, concession stands and a weight room were also discussed. The ATG firm was given some guidelines to use and invited to come back with rough pricing and options for upgrades.

Construction consultant Jim Hanks was present for the meeting and offered suggestions and insights.

Superintendent Thomason summed up,"We've had some good years and put some money back. We have enough to do some things... and somewhere down the line we're going to have to have these things. We need to think wisely about getting it done." Trustee Willie Gilliam concurred, "Somewhere down the line, the State's going to take it."