Dublin ISD will save more than $12,000 and potentially help taxpayers by paying off a bond early.
At the Monday, March 23 DISD school board meeting, the board voted to use monies in its debt services fund to pay off the remaining $1.2 million of a $6.6 million bond from 2015.
DISD Business Manager Kassi Eads explained currently there was $1.29 million in the debt services account, which the district can only use to pay off debts.
By paying the debt off early, the district would save approximately $12,000 in interest, and would allow the district to possibly adopt a zero I&S (Interest and Sinking) portion of the tax rate in August, aiding taxpayers.
“We have the money. We might as well pay it off,” Eads said.
Once the payoff occurs, it will allow the district to possibly accomplish some goals such as refinancing items in the general fund to free up money. This money could then be used for teacher raises since it would be coming from the general fund.
Another option would be for the district to go after another bond for about $1 million in order to accomplish longstanding needs such as tennis courts on campus.
None of these options would increase the tax rate, Superintendent Melissa Summers said.
With the move to pay off the bond early, the district approved a resolution to engage Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC to serve as bond counsel as needed.
The district is also excited to begin work on a new ag barn located on the Dublin Secondary campus near the baseball fields.
Board President Bob Cervetto explained after a lengthy process, the former ag building and land on FM 219 has been sold for $305,000.
The money will be the start of the new ag barn, which will include a large multi-purpose area. This area can be used not only for ag purposes but such things as prom, community classes and more. Cervetto clarified that this is not an indoor athletic facility.
To aid in funding the new ag barn, there will be a fundraiser May 9 with barbecue, a silent auction, pieces from the floral design class and ag projects for sale.
The district is hoping to have the dimensions staked out by the fundraiser and have renderings for people to see.
“This is big move for our kids,” Cervetto said.
Summers echoed the sentiment and said they hoped the move to on campus would aid in increasing the number of students showing animals.
“A lot of values are taught through FFA,” Summers said.
“This a move to make sure we have what our kids need,” Cervetto said.
The district also approved funds for the first step in getting its technology where it needs to be with a districtwide technology network refresh.
“We need to dedicate a significant amount of money to technology upgrades,” Summers said.
Technology Director Drew Wiederkehr explained to the district that serious infrastructure improvements were needed to aid stability of WiFi in the district.
The first phase of improvements which is strictly for infrastructure is $340,000, and will be completed by TESSERA technology group.
The technology group is on BuyBoard, which are businesses well vetted, and the district also vetted the company, and received many letters of recommendation.
“They have worked on 6-man districts all the way up to 6A,” Summers explained.
The plan is being completed to give the district longevity and to last at least 10 years into the future.
“We have to hold our breath right now on test days to see if the internet will stay up,” Wiederkehr said.
The board approved the technology improvement and the budget adjustment to fund the project. The funds will most likely be taken from reserves, or additional state dollars.
Though no action was taken on next year’s school calendar, a substantial portion of the meeting was taken for a candid discussion about the possibility of DISD going to a 4-day school week next year.
A survey published sought feedback from parents, staff and students.
Summers went over the survey results.
Out of 543 parent responses, 59.3% were in favor of a 4-day week, with Monday through Thursday being the preferred choice.
Out of 178 staff responses, 77.5% were in favor of a 4-day week.
Out of 130 responses from students (9-11 grade only), 68.5% were in favor of a 4-day week.
Many factors were discussed at the meeting including feedback board members had received while out and about in the community.
“We want to slow this down a bit and really get feedback from people,” Summers explained, which is why no action on the school calendar was taken at Monday night’s meeting.
The district sees a 4-day week as a teacher recruitment and retention tool, but wants to make sure it is the right fit for DISD.
If the district went to 4-day weeks, teachers and students would get approximately 15 more days off a year. However, school days would run from approximately 7:45 a.m. to 4:05 to 4:10 p.m.
Summers said her and Director of Curriculum Trish Thornton would be going to campuses talking about changes to staff members in the next few weeks.
From the audience, staff members shared that they really loved having three weeks off at Christmas and that 4-day weeks could possibly be used as a staff recruitment tool.
Others said they would never take a job offer just because of a 4-day school week.
Concerns heard in the community included daycare expenses associated with only one day a week, the effect of longer school days on students and athletes, how 4-day weeks would affect games, pep rallies and other school extracurriculars, and the effect of a shorter week for substitute and other employee pay (who are not teachers).