Elysian Fields ISD’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a bond initiative for the May 4, 2024, ballot during Monday night’s regular board meeting held at the EFISD Administration Building.
The $55,000,000 proposal will be presented to voters with two different propositions on the ballot.
Proposition A ($52,421,531.00) includes:
• New Elementary School (at a site to be determined)
• Relocation of EFISD Transportation to current EF Elementary site
• High School Gym Locker Room renovations
• Roof Replacements at EFHS and EFMS
• HVAC/Electrical/Plumbing Upgrades at EFHS/EFMS
• Security Access Control Vestibules at EFHS/EFMS
• Three New School Buses with air conditioning
Proposition B ($2,578,469.00) includes:
• Demolition/Replacement of old EFHS Field House at Jacket Stadium
The bond proposal is the product of a detailed, community-driven, long-range facility plan developed by a committee of EFISD stakeholders who met in a series of meetings from July-September 2023. This EFISD Long Range Facility Planning committee was composed of representatives with various perspectives, including parents, grandparents, business leaders, students, civic leaders, educators, and EFSD alumni.
The committee spent their time reviewing and analyzing the aspects, histories, and projections of Elysian Fields ISD’s district finances, educational programs, and thorough discussions of both the immediate and long-term needs of the district.
As a result of this process, the committee formed a recommendation for a Long Range Facility Plan for Elysian Fields ISD and presented it to the EFISD Board of Trustees in October of 2023. The trustees took this recommendation and developed from it the May 2024 bond proposal that was approved Monday night.
The bond proposal is the first presented to EFISD voters since 2007. EFISD currently has the lowest total tax rate ($0.7029) of any district in the East Texas area. If approved by voters in May, the bond proposal would add 13 cents to the current Interest & Sinking portion of the tax rate ($0.0337), which is also the lowest among surrounding districts.
Over the last 10 years, EFISD has lowered its total tax rate by over 53 cents. Even with an additional 13 cents on the I&S side of the tax rate, the district will still maintain a significantly lower tax rate than just 10 years ago.
Taxes are “frozen” for taxpayers age 65 and over or disabled persons under the Homestead Exemption application. These taxpayers will see no increase in their tax rate as a result of a school bond election.
Early voting in the EFISD 2024 Bond Election begins April 22 through April 30, with Election Day scheduled for May 4. All registered voters within EFISD are eligible to cast a vote on both propositions in the election.