By BRAD KELLAR
Commerce Journal
COMMERCE —
The board of trustees of the Campbell Independent School District has called for an election in November to decide the fate of a $5 million bond package.
If approved, the funds would be used to build a new elementary school, which district officials say is needed due to rapid growth. The board voted unanimously Monday to call for the election.
According to a release from Campbell ISD Public Information Officer Gerald F. Rosebure, preliminary plans call for the construction of 12 to 14 new classrooms, a cafeteria and a physical education gymnasium. W.C. Ferrell has been selected as the architect for the project, Campus Builders was chosen as construction managers and Ron Griner of Government Capitol Securities has been named as the financial consultant.
Superintendent Strike Franklin said the Campbell ISD is the fastest growing school district in Hunt County, growing 14 percent in the past year and 25 percent in the past three years. Franklin said the district had received a Qualified School Construction Bond for the 2010 school year, one of only 74 districts to receive the bond this year. The low interest loan must be used within one year.
In addition to calling the bond election, the board of trustees also approved a maintenance and operations property tax rate for next year of $1.17 per $100 valuation which will automatically trigger a tax ratification election. The bond election and tax ratification election are both scheduled for Nov. 2.
The deadline to register to vote for the elections is Oct. 4. Early voting by personal appearance will take place Oct. 18-29. A mobile early voting session is scheduled at the Campbell ISD Sports Park, 1709 Highway 50 in Campbell, from 5 until 8 p.m. Oct. 22. The annual Campbell PTO Fall Festival will be held at the same place that day.
A bond committee, made up of parents, teachers and interested persons is being formed. Committee meetings have tentatively been scheduled for Aug. 31 and Sept. 7, with town hall meetings tentatively scheduled for Sept. 16 and Oct. 14. The bond committee, administrators, architect, construction managers and the financial consultant are expected to be on hand and making presentations concerning the project.
