Denton ISD to hold bond election

by Staff of Lantana Links

$282 million means a lot of construction and technology.

DENTON — The Denton ISD Board of Trustees voted last week to call a $282 million bond election for the Nov. 6 ballot.

The bond issue was recommended by a Citizens Advisory Committee made up of residents and will include funding for new schools, the renovation and upgrading of school buildings, land acquisition and new school buses.

The growth portion of the bond package - $118.3 million - will allocate funds to purchase land, build two elementary schools and one middle school, and pay for the design of a new high school to be located in the northeastern part of the district. Enrollment estimates show the number of elementary students will double to 20,725 by 2017.

The bond package also sets aside $124.3 million for renovations and additions, $18.4 million for the district’s technology program, $15 million for support services, and $2 million to fund a child care program for district employees. 44 new school buses, at a cost of $4 million, is also included in the bond package.

$735,000 is earmarked for a new science lab and prep room at E.P. Rayzor Elementary in Lantana.

If the bond passes this November, the debt service portion of the tax rate is estimated to increase by 9 percent, to 43 cents.