[UPDATE JAN. 26: The Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees unanimously passed an order for a bond election to be held May 4 at its Jan. 26 special meeting.]

Following the recommendations of the Long Range Planning Committee at the Jan. 23 school board meeting, the Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees called a special meeting Jan. 26 to discuss a $777 million proposed bond that would not affect the current $1.1492 tax rate. Upon approval of the proposal by the Board, a bond election will be held May 4.

The LRPC, comprised of 90 staff members, parents and community members, met five times over four months to assess the needs of the district and establish a plan for the bond, ultimately receiving 70% support for the recommendation among committee members.

The committee focused on benefits to students, benefits to the community, urgency of need and learning equity across the district. The proposed bond centers around maintaining and upgrading current facilities and programs, with over 82% of MISD facilities with end-of-life equipment or system. The proposal allocates $271 million to capital improvements, such as roofing, HVAC and deferred maintenance at buildings across the district.

“[They] looked at the entire district, and that’s encouraging. Academics are important, athletics are important, fine arts, I appreciate taking a look at the entire scope of the district,” Craig Tipping, board trustee, said in a public comment. “I know some of these things that were presented may not be the items you think about spending money on, but they’re needs that are there, and I appreciate the fine details that were looked at.”

After graduates of the Early Learning Academy showed a 10% increase in kindergarten beginning-of-year literacy rates on average over the past two school years, the proposal allocates for an additional new construction academy. Additionally, a proposed orchestra space at all intermediate and middle schools, choir room renovations at several middle schools, and a dedicated facility for band, drill team and cheer at all high schools are also outlined in the proposal.

“Legacy has an ideal situation compared to every other campus. At other campuses, cheerleaders practice in the cafeteria every day.  The dance rooms at Mansfield, Timberview, and Summit are maybe half the size of the dance rooms at Legacy and Lake Ridge, They hold about 10 kids,” Ms. Brooke Parlin, varsity drill team coach, said. “Cheer deserves a proper locker room in addition to practice space. If the bond could provide all of these things, I believe both programs would continue to excel significantly.”

With nearly 36% of MISD students relying on bus transportation to and from school, $42 million is allocated to transportation, the purchase of new buses, employee and bus parking and shop expansion, at the Main St. and 6th Ave. facilities. An additional $28 million is allocated to Career and Technology Education (CTE), including new equipment and classroom renovations.

“I think we talk about Mansfield all the time as continuous improvement and the leader,” Ms. Bianca Benavides Anderson, school board secretary, said in a public comment. “I have three kids that go to school, two who are at Ben Barber every semester. It’s an innovator for us, we’re trying to press the envelope, and Ben Barber is that step.”

Under the proposed bond, $66 million is allocated to safety and security, including replacements for the existing PTZ security camera, a dedicated new-construction police station, a larger dispatch center, and weapons detection systems for all middle schools and The Center.  A technology infrastructure and network overhaul, the completion of a fiber optic ring around the district, and the purchase of new A/V equipment and digital boards are also included in the proposed bond.

The $128 million allocated for athletics focuses on improvements at all middle and high schools, as well as the completion of Phase 2, the second floor, and Phase 3, the indoor 50-yard practice field, of the Multipurpose Athletic Center (MAC) at each high school. Renovations at the R.L. Anderson stadium–a home-side press box, home-side concession stand, new locker rooms and bleachers are also proposed.