Published: May 05, 2008 04:43 pm            

Green light?

GISD proposing $27.7 million bond election

By Philip Navarrette

reporter@trcle.com



Godley ISD administrators hope voters give them the green light for growth after Saturday’s election.

The district is proposing a $27.78 million bond package so the district can have room to adjust to the growing number of students in the school district, Superintendent Paul Smithson said.

“Last year we evaluated our facilities and came to the conclusion that we need to do something,” Smithson said.

“We’ve got maybe one more classroom available at Godley Elementary, and we’ll be at capacity at the intermediate school. There’s simply no more room.”

Most of the bond package’s money is devoted to projects at Godley Intermediate School. The nearly 70-year-old building has seen numerous renovations, and now it’s time for another, Smithson said.

“It’s a great school, and it’s been in the district for a long time,” Smithson said. “We don’t want to get rid of it — we just want to take the old and incorporate it into the new.”

The package calls for $12.9 million to be used to add a new wing to the school, which will hold 18 new classrooms, support spaces, a new cafetorium, the school’s administrative offices and a fine arts area. The school’s cafeteria will be remodeled into new, much larger library.

“If it’s passed, it will give the library much more room,” Smithson said.

Gym renovations are planned to give the site new flooring, telescoping seating and new acoustical solutions for sound control.

Plans are also in the works to add a new drop-off and pick-up loop at GIS and Godley Middle School to alleviate traffic congestion at the sites.

Plans for Godley Elementary School include 12 new classrooms with supporting restrooms, a remodeled cafeteria and kitchen and a library renovation to provide more stack space.

At GMS, new lights and paint are planned for the school’s main corridors. New sidewalks and a canopy are also planned at the school’s pick-up and drop-off points.

Godley High School’s projects include a new fine-arts wing with a band hall, practice rooms, locker rooms and storage space. Plans also include a green house for the ag science building and increased parking at the school stadium.

With all the projects, the projected property tax rate is expected to go up 5 cents, from $1.03. The jump is much lower than a typical bond where rates can jump 30 cents to as much as 50 cents. Smithson credits the low rate to the area’s success with Barnett Shale drilling.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” he said. “It’s happening all over the area, and we’re kind of at the center here.”

Early voting continues until Tuesday at the Godley ISD Administration building, 512 Links Drive. On Saturday voting is at Godley Civic Center, 104 S. Main St.

        

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