Summary
Highlights
Carlos Rios, superintendent, and Raymond Mesa, board president, introduce the committee forum to discuss the bond. They emphasize the importance of being informed voters and thank attendees for clarifying misinformation. Various board members, including Jesus Millio Alindo, D Maras, Rebecca Chavez, and Josh Orfeld, also introduce themselves and express gratitude for community participation. Dr. Rios states the goal is to present facts and answer questions, not to influence voting decisions.
A citizens committee, comprising teachers, community members, and parents, reviewed district needs and prioritized projects. The bond focuses on needs, not wants. Key projects include a replacement campus for the freshman center, renovations to Buena Vista Elementary, and a second gymnasium for San Felipe Memorial Middle School. The decision to create three separate middle schools instead of one large one has already shown significant improvements in student passing rates for extracurricular activities (89% this year, up from 79-80%). The new gym at San Felipe Memorial is needed because middle schools typically have two gyms, and it will also house a new tech facility for project-based learning. RBB Elementary is another project.
Josh Orfeld explains that the $50 million bond will not result in a tax increase. He clarifies that Texas law requires ballot language to state it's a property tax increase, regardless of whether the rate changes. Due to past debt payments, the interest and sinking (INS) fund rate will remain at $0.1877 per $100 valuation. This rate is projected to decline after five years, by 2031. The board is not allowed to collect more than needed for debt service without a tax ratification election. The district’s good financial management allows them to take on this new debt without raising taxes.
The Del Rio Freshman Center, built around 1980, is an old building with extensive issues like flooding. Renovating the existing main wing alone would cost over $10 million, making a complete replacement more financially sensible. The new, two-story freshman center, costing about $25 million (49% of the bond), will house all facilities under one roof, improving security and energy efficiency. The construction will occur in the current courtyard, with existing buildings being demolished for parking and green space after the new facility is complete.
A priority for the board is student safety, especially given concerns about gun violence. The new integrated campus at the Freshman Center will keep students indoors, a significant security improvement compared to current outdoor transitions between buildings. Schools are also community focal points, serving as emergency shelters, as demonstrated during the 1998 flood. Existing security measures like fences and key card access are being implemented at other schools, and the bond supports these efforts to ensure student safety.
Buenav Vista Elementary, built in 1980, is one of the oldest elementary schools in the district and needs a major overhaul. While a new gym and library were added previously, the interior still has wood paneling, old heating systems, and an inefficient AC system. The renovation, costing $8 million (14% of the bond), will modernize the interior, including classrooms, and expand the undersized cafeteria and kitchen to accommodate fluctuating enrollment (which has seen an increase in the Buena Vista area).
San Felipe Memorial Middle School, historically significant as a former high school, is now a key part of the district's three-middle-school structure. Currently housing the new tech academy, which has grown to nearly 300 students, it needs a dedicated facility for project-based learning. A new tech academy building will be constructed at the corner of Garan Water Street. Additionally, unlike other middle schools, San Felipe Memorial only has one gym; the bond will fund a second practice gym, with the existing Philips Ricks gym undergoing renovation to serve as a game gym. This ensures equal facilities across all middle schools and supports the growing tech and athletic programs.
The bond includes $7 million for a permanent Roberto Bobby Barrera (RBB) Elementary school at Laughlin Air Force Base. Laughlin is within the district's attendance zone, and as the second-largest employer in the community, it contributes significantly to the local economy. Providing a neighborhood school at the base enhances the quality of life for military families, which is crucial for retaining missions at Laughlin and supporting the Del Rio community. The planned facility is a compact elementary school, replacing portable buildings, with one classroom per grade level, a small cafeteria, admin office, and library.
The total tax rate for Del Rio citizens is $0.9363 per $100 valuation, comprised of the maintenance and operation (M&O) rate ($0.7486, set by the state) and the interest and sinking (I&S) fund rate ($0.1877). The bond will not increase the I&S rate. Furthermore, the state is increasing the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $140,000, which reduces the taxable value of properties. The district also offers an optional 20% homestead exemption for residents aged 65 or older, leading to further tax relief for eligible homeowners. An increase in property values would cause the tax rate to decrease to maintain the fixed annual payment for the bond.
In response to questions, Mr. Overfelt clarifies that freshman students will remain in existing buildings during the approximately two-year construction of the new freshman center, separated by construction fencing. Regarding additional needs, Dr. Rios indicates that after this bond, instructional facility needs will largely be met, with future bonds likely addressing 'wants' like fine arts or sports facilities. The bond money is for instructional facilities only. The district is fiscally responsible, refinancing debt every 10 years and investing unspent funds. On teacher shortages, the district is actively working to grow its own educators and increase teacher pay, having implemented a teacher incentive allotment program that offers significant bonuses to qualifying teachers.
A query about the existing $36 million debt is answered by explaining that this debt will be mostly liquidated by the time payments on the new bond begin. The timeline for projects is rapid: RBB Elementary construction will start first and be completed within 6-9 months, as its designs are ready. Freshman campus construction will also begin early due to its longer two-year timeline. Buenav Vista renovations will follow, conducted wing by wing using modular buildings from RBB. The new tech academy and gym at San Felipe Memorial will be next within the three-year timeframe, avoiding increased construction costs through timely execution. The goal is for current sixth graders to benefit from the new freshman campus.
The board members reiterate key points: no new tax rate increase, focus on needs for sound education and safety, and investment in RBB as an investment in the local economy. The new tech facility, explained further by Mr. Overfelt, is a crucial component of the district's goal to have students graduate with industry certifications, providing project-based learning opportunities starting from middle school. All present emphasize the importance of community engagement and voting based on accurate information. They thank students for attending and underscore that the bond is an investment in educational infrastructure for the future generations of the community.