AGC Data Dig Facts

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of factual information!

 

Today’s Data Dig is: How much does it cost and how long does it take to build schools?

The AGC has learned that construction costs as well as timelines have escalated significantly since the district built schools in the 2019 bond. When they’re formulating what to include in a bond package, they are using these cost estimates - called an Opinion of Probable  Cost - that take into consideration rising construction costs and inflation leading up to when the project would bid. The AGC is also looking at prices escalating each year and taking that into consideration in their long-range planning.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

Today we're answering: 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙙?

Think about bonds for schools like a mortgage for your home! Just as most families don’t have the available funds to build or purchase a new residence without a mortgage, school districts do not have the financial resources available to pay for large capital expenditures, such as building new schools or renovating schools, without taking on debt, which is done in the form of a bond that is approved by voters.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

The follow up to yesterday’s question explaining what is a bond: Approximately how much money is the district projected to be able to borrow?

This is where things get a little complicated. There are two different types of bonds: Traditional Bonds and Growth Bonds. The amount that the district may borrow depends upon the tax rate and the rate of property value growth in the district over time. The two charts show the estimated amount of money the district may borrow at the current 42.5 cent Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate as well as at other I&S tax rates, based on property value growth projected by the district’s financial advisor BOK.

A growth bond is a somewhat new concept to Aledo ISD but it’s not new to many fast-growth school districts. In short, a Traditional Bond focuses more on the near-term capital needs of the District while a Growth Bond focuses on both the near-term and long-term capital needs of the district. A Growth Bond offers flexibility on implementation of bond projects and timing of bond sales, both of which can occur only after the district certifies, based on its property tax values each year, that it has the bonding capacity to issue debt. The Board of Trustees must approve issuing debt and large capital expenditures for construction.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts

 

Today’s Data Dig is: What are the three main options under consideration for building more high school space?

While we’ve already established that AISD high school space (9-12 combined) moves above maximum capacity in 2028-29, thus giving the district some time for the need for additional space, we’ve also learned that it takes 48 months total to build a comprehensive high school from design to completion of construction. This is why the AGC is considering three main options for additional high school space, including building a new high school, adding onto and renovating Aledo High School, and building high school space in a different type of campus. 

Tune in the next two days as we will explore a potential HS #2 and another type of high school campus!

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Take a look back from this past week and then join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

Today’s Data Dig is: Is there an option to get a second high school through phasing the construction?

Yesterday, we discussed the three high school options that were presented to the community at the community meetings in December. Today and tomorrow, we’re going to continue to explore other, less traditional, options for high school space.

Because of the expense of construction and the fact that the borrowing power of the district is limited, the Aledo Growth Committee has analyzed the phased construction of a second comprehensive high school. The phased approach would add high school capacity in the district in an incremental way and at a lower cost than that of an entire new high school.

Phasing the construction of a second high school (into two phases) would include building all of the core spaces (like the library, kitchen, cafeteria) plus athletic and fine arts spaces and some classroom space for an enrollment of 1,500 students. The building would be designed/master planned to be expanded with additional classrooms and expanded core spaces at a later time.

This option would add space for 1,500 students (3,000 when phase 2 is complete), would take 24 months to build, and would cost about $244 million.

Phase 2 of high school No. 2 would begin at a later date and require passing another bond to complete.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

Today’s Data Dig is: What is a College and Career Academy (one of the options under consideration for adding HS space to the district)?

While the concept of a College and Career Academy may be new to families in Aledo ISD, it is not a new concept statewide. This is similar to campuses you see in districts like Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Keller, Rockwall, Allen, Frisco and many more.

A CCA would add high school capacity, creating a centralized location and additional space for Advanced Academic courses (college dual credit courses, UT OnRamps courses, and Advanced Placement courses), as well as Career and Technical Education courses such as Ag Sciences, Health Sciences, Business, Engineering, Teaching and Learning, and more. The building would include flex labs, collaborative spaces and a cafe/commons area. Click here for more information about advanced academic and CTE offerings in AISD (pages24-38): Download Here

A CCA would be a separate campus with a capacity of 1,200 which would allow students to move between AHS/DNG (or any future HS) and the CCA throughout the day. This would reduce the number of students at the high school(s) at one time.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

Today we’re digging into your tax rate: If citizens pass a bond to pay for new schools, etc., does it take money away from teacher salaries or other things needed for students to learn?

No, because there are two completely separate parts to the District’s tax rate/budget (as seen above) that are not interchangeable and cannot cross over. Proceeds from a bond issue can be used for the construction and renovation of facilities, the acquisition of land and the purchase of capital items such as equipment, technology and buses. By law, I&S funds cannot be used to pay M&O expenses, which means that voter-approved bonds cannot be used to increase teacher salaries, the number of teachers or other staff, or to fund any other operational expense.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

As the Aledo Growth Committee gets closer to making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an upcoming bond election, we’re going to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Join us over the next several days for this important Data Dig of facts!

 

Today we're digging further into the AISD tax rate: What has happened to the Aledo ISD tax rate in the last five years?

Due to tax compression on the Maintenance and Operations side of the tax rate, the Aledo ISD overall tax rate has decreased 22.71 cents in the last five years, going from $1.595 per $100 of valuation to $1.3679 per $100 of valuation.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.

 

The Aledo Growth Committee will present their draft bond recommendation to the Board of Trustees tomorrow (Thurs., 1/26), so we’re continuing to dig into the data they’ve been using to make their decisions. Thanks for tuning in for today’s important 📊Data Dig📈 of facts!

Today’s data dig question is: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙤 𝙄𝙎𝘿 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝?

You may have heard this phrase already, but it’s worth reiterating: Aledo ISD isn’t a one or two high school district, we’re more than likely a five or six high school town. So just how big is Aledo ISD? You could fit Carroll ISD, Allen ISD, Birdville ISD and HEB ISD within the boundaries of our school district. Aledo ISD encompasses 130 square miles; Carroll, Allen, Birdville and HEB combined are 130 square miles.

Review all of the AGC data and more here, and send your questions or recommendations to the AGC at agcquestions@aledoisd.org. And mark your calendar for a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, when the AGC will share preliminary bond package plans with Trustees.