Northwest ISD | Election Information

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Community Approves NISD Bond, Elects Board Members

The Northwest ISD community approved the NISD bond referendum on May 10, with 72 percent voting “for” the $260 million bond.

“The community continues to support education in Northwest ISD,” said Superintendent Karen Rue. “Across our diverse district, voters recognized the district’s growth and approved facilities supporting our children and their future. With student enrollment continually increasing and projected to reach 22,000 in the next five years, this bond will help ensure that students are taught in quality schools that are conducive to learning.”

In the election, 2,710 people voted, with 1,052 votes being cast during early voting. The number voting “for” the single proposition totaled 1,955, with the number voting “against” totaling 755. There are approximately 32,020 registered voters in Northwest ISD.

With no expected increase to the Interest and Sinking (I&S) portion of the tax rate, the $260 million bond will address the district’s continuing student population growth, which is projected to increase by 46 percent over the next three years. It will provide facilities and programs for an additional 5,950 students, facility maintenance and repairs, renovations for educational programs, and the purchase of additional school sites. Specifically, the bond program includes seven new elementary schools, one additional middle school, a building addition, several building renovations, and technology infrastructure and hardware.

“Northwest ISD is a rapidly growing district,” said Dr. Rue. “We project that over 92 percent of this bond will accommodate students who are not yet enrolled in Northwest. With demographics indicating that the district could reach 90,000 students by 2027, it is plausible that a bond election could be held every three years, with two new schools opening each year for the next 20 years.”

Elementary School #14, to be located in the Harriet Creek subdivision in Fort Worth, will be the first school built with funds from this bond. The school is scheduled to open in August 2009 and will relieve student population growth at W.R. Hatfield Elementary School. Currently, 11,960 students are enrolled in Northwest ISD.

Holland, Palmer, and Fuller elected to school board

Devonna Holland, Davis Palmer, and Mel Fuller were elected to serve in Place 5, 6, and 7 on the Northwest ISD Board of Trustees. Holland, a resident of Rhome, was elected to Place 5 with 53 percent of voter approval, and Trophy Club resident Mel Fuller was elected to Place 7 with 54 percent of voter approval. Incumbent Davis Palmer was unopposed in the election for Place 6. He has served on the board since 1998 and is a resident of Trophy Club. More than 2,000 people voted in the Northwest ISD Board of Trustees election.

Accommodating 5,950 new students
The $260 million bond package will provide facilities and programs for an additional 5,950 students, facility renovations for educational programs, and the purchase of additional school sites. Specifically, the bond program includes seven new elementary schools, one additional middle school, a building addition, several building renovations, and technology infrastructure and hardware. It also provides a foundation for the technology five-year replacement cycle.

No increase to the I&S tax rate

One unique factor of this bond package is that the I&S (Interest and Sinking) tax rate will not increase. A financial forecast by First Southwest Securities has determined that a $260 million capital bond program could be implemented with no I&S tax rate increase due to the tremendous growth rate of the district and its tax base. The I&S portion of the tax rate would remain at the current rate of $0.335.

The district pledged that the I&S tax rate would not exceed $0.335 during both the 2001 and 2005 bond programs, and the district maintained its commitment to voters. Northwest ISD was able to keep its commitment by selling the bonds only as needed. The district will again use this same strategy and only sell the bonds as needed.

Results of past bond elections

In 2005, the board followed the committee’s recommendation in calling a $224.5 million bond election which was overwhelmingly approved by voters. The 2005 bond package provided for the construction of five new schools, the purchase of 14 school sites, the replacement and maintenance of roofs and air conditioning/heating systems, and technology.

90 percent of the 2005 bond projects are underway or have been completed under budget. The following projects are scheduled for completion in 2009: Byron Nelson High School; Middle School #4; a building addition and roof and air conditioning replacements at Gene Pike Middle School; a building addition at Chisholm Trail Middle School; and a roof replacement at Northwest High School.

Of the 14 school site purchases designated in the 2005 bond, three sites have been purchased and three sites are currently under contract. The district has eight remaining school sites to purchase and is currently working with developers to identify land appropriate for school sites within growing neighborhoods.

Student enrollment growth in NISD

Northwest ISD experienced a 14 percent increase in student enrollment from September 2006 to September 2007, an addition of 1,450 students. In the previous school year, the district’s enrollment increased by 19 percent. Based on moderate growth projections, the most likely growth scenario as determined by district demographers, the district’s enrollment will double over the next five years, reaching 22,080 by 2012. As documented in the Long-Range Planning Committee’s 20-year master facility plan, 28 schools would be required to accommodate the anticipated student population based on the district’s current maximum school capacity standards (650 elementary, 1,100 middle school, 2,700 high school). By 2027, the facility plan projects more than 90,000 students and about 115 schools.

Northwest Independent School District has 17 separate campuses, spanning three counties (Tarrant, Denton, and Wise) and 14 municipalities. As a result of the 2005 bond election, the district opened Kay Granger Elementary in August 2007. Northwest will open two new elementary schools in August 2008, and a new elementary, middle, and high school in August 2009. The district’s growth is a result of several factors: the size of the school district; the number of active housing developments; and the attractive housing, retail, and business industry in the immediate area. Northwest ISD encompasses 232 square miles, one of the largest school districts in the area.

2007 Northwest Independent School District