Thorndale ISD voters to decide on bond issue

Thorndale ISD voters will decide on a $34.5 million bond issue on May 4 that could bring a new high school facility and renovations to the district’s current facilities.

The proposed project would fund a new high school building on land that was purchased last year with new classrooms, cafeteria, ag facility and barn along with other career and technology facilities, band hall and new field house.

The bond will also fund changes to the middle and elementary schools.

If passed the current high school building would transition to the middle school and add a new secure entry vestibule and fire alarm and renovate the band hall and transition the Special Education Department from portable buildings to the middle school. 

The middle school will then be used for upper elementary. New hallways connecting the middle and elementary facilities will be part of the funds as well as new playground equipment, and way finding signage.

Thorndale ISD Superintendent Zack Kleypus said the district had several community meetings before deciding on what should be included in the bond election.

“A big concern was our current building and how we utilize what is good in them and what is not,” he said. “By building a new high school it will allow the current middle school students to move into the old high school to give them more room and the middle school will become upper elementary and new hallways will be built to connect the two buildings so it feels like a big building. That will get students out of the seven portable buildings that are currently being used.”

In building a new high school it will be over on its own location on land that was purchased by Thorndale ISD next to the football field and there will be room to expand should need be.

Thorndale ISD currently has a little over 600 students. It is projected that growth in the next 10 years will be between 820 and 994 students.

The tax impact on homeowners will be an increase of about $813 on a home with the median price of $262,577. To see your personal tax impact you can visit the district’s tax calculator at https://bit.ly/tisdtaxcalculator24.

There is no impact for senior citizens with an Age 65 freeze on their homesteads unless the homeowner makes significant improvements beyond normal repairs to the home. 

There will also be an election for school board on the ballot.

Two at-large seats will go to Ann Glenn and Adam Fisher with no other contestants. There will be a race for a one-year unexpired term between Chad Martinka and Taylor Rowe.

Early voting begins April 22 and will run through April 30 at the Thorndale ISD Board Room. Election Day is May 4 at the Thorndale Senior Citizen Center.

For more information you can visit www.thorndale.txed.net/tisdbond or email tisdbond@thorndale.exed.net