Lindale voters have approved $42 million of bonds in two separate proposals for construction and renovation in the district.

The package was divided into two seperare issues. The first, a $32 million bond proposal, passed with 1,314 votes in favor of the issue and 755 against it.

The second proposal, a $10 million bond proposal passed with 1,235 votes in favor of it and 823 votes against it.

“We are extremely excited about the results and the support shown by the citizens of Lindale,” LISD Superintendent Stan Surratt said.

“This is another great statement by the community of their great support for our school system. We are excited to move forward with this project and look forward to beginning construction as soon as possible.”

Surratt said the next few months will focus on design and development. “The school board and administration will work closely with the architect and engineers to develop the best plans for the district,” Surratt said.

The new junior high school will include; at least 28 regular classrooms, four science labs, a computer lab, art, speech, theater arts, journalism and vocational classrooms, a cafetorium, gymnasium, multiple practice and competition floors, multiple band practice rooms, outdoor practice fields, tennis courts and a six lane track.

“I know the entire community is going to be very excited about the new junior high school,” Surratt said. “We are going to build a great facility that will be in use by the district for the next 50-plus years.”

With the passage of Proposition I and the construction of a new junior high school, Lindale Primary School and Velma Penny Elementary School will be realigned to house grades 1-3. E.J. Moss Intermediate and the current Lindale Junior High School will become one campus and house grades 4-6. The new junior high school will house grades 7-8. A location for the new junior high school has not yet been determined.

Surratt said the earliest possible date for construction of the new junior high school to be complete will be August 2011. With any delays, Surratt said the new junior high school could open in August 2012 with grade realignment taking place at the same time.

Lindale ISD received notification from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the district has met the eligibility requirements and been approved to designate $6,547,500 in bonded indebtedness under the federal Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) Program. This will enable the district to sell bonds at potentially zero percent interest. For the school district and tax payers this means the bond payments will be less therefore allowing a lower interest and sinking (I/S) tax rate.

An increase of 15 cents to the I/S tax rate is expected for an increase of about $12.50 per month or $2.88 per week per $100,000 of property value. The average home value in Lindale ISD is $130,381.

The LISD Board of Trustees initially called the bond election due to the district’s rapid growth. A facilities study reported a rate of growth of 3.35% in the last ten years, and 4.26% in the last seven years. Currently 3,610 students are enrolled in the Lindale ISD.

Two campuses, Early Childhood Center and Velma Penny Elementary School exceed capacity/core this school year. In two years, four campuses (Early Childhood Center, Velma Penny Elementary, Lindale Primary School and Lindale High School) will exceed capacity/core. In three years, all six LISD campuses will exceed capacity/core without the addition of classrooms.