Education
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
CISD begins long-range planning for 2025 bond Celina ISD o cials are starting long-range planning for a potential 2025 school bond election. District sta presented trustees with an update on long-range planning during a Sept. 18 meeting. Sorting out details Through November, the district will create a community group for planning, host community groups for outreach and have the district deci- sion-making committee create a learner pro le. The planning group, also known as the commit- tee matrix, will have about 60-65 members and be made up of students, parents and employees, according to district documents. It could also include grandparents and well-known community members, CISD Chief Branding O cer Karen Fitzgerald said. “A committee member is also a taxpayer,” she said. “You have to have that stakeholder.”
CISD to invest $40M of bonds in banks Celina ISD o cials are putting $40 million worth of bond funds into local banks. The district’s board discussed the investment during an Oct. 16 meeting. “When it comes to bond money, we need to be mindful of being good stewards of pub- lic goods and public funds,” Superintendent Thomas Maglisceau said. Current situation Of the $100 million in funds, the board will split up $40 million of the funds and invest them into Celina banks, including Lamar National Bank, Texas Republic Bank and Independent Financial. The board voted to work with local insti- tutions that will put a certi cate of deposit in place for 52 weeks, nine months and six months.
Prosper ISD joins districts in lawsuit against TEA Prosper ISD o cials joined more than 50 Texas school districts in a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency. “I’m thankful for all the districts in the state of Texas who have taken this stand on behalf of Texas public schools,” Prosper ISD Superintendent Holly Ferguson said at the Sept. 18 board meeting. What’s happening? The district’s board of trustees unanimously voted to join a lawsuit against the TEA over its failure to adequately notify school districts on the changes made to the way accountability ratings are calcu- lated as well as the lack of transparency in making the changes, according to the board’s resolution. The TEA’s failure to provide advance notice to school districts of the changes made to the A F accountability system violated state law, the reso- lution stated. Per Texas Education Code 39.0542,
Celina ISD bond planning
“I wish the state of Texas would ask us what the true experience of a child is in Prosper ISD. It has nothing to do with a [State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness] test or an [end- of-course] test; it has everything to do
6
LEGACY PKWY.
E
January-April 2024: The student pro le will be aligned with facility and program needs. April-May 2024: The plan for the district is expected to be presented to the board. September-November 2024: The bond committee is expected to begin to identify immediate needs in the district. November 2024: The bond committee is expected present the immediate facility needs plan to the board. December 2024: The school board could take action on the facilities plan. February 2025: The board of trustees could call for an election. May 2025: The bond election could be held.
N
with the programs, the opportunities, the teachers and the educators." HOLLY FERGUSON, PROSPER ISD
Contractor selected for new PISD campus Prosper ISD o cials selected Pogue Construction as the construction manager at risk for the district’s 20th elementary school. The district’s school board unanimously approved the contract Sept. 18. The details The school construction is part of the 2023 bond program, Deputy Superintendent Greg Bradley said. Its funding is contingent on the bond passing in November.
SUPERINTENDENT
the education commissioner is required to provide school districts with a “simple, accessible” docu- ment explaining the accountability performance measures, methods and procedures that will be applied to their campus performance ratings. The lack of advanced notice harmed the district, the board’s resolution stated. Celina ISD has not joined the lawsuit.
SOURCE: CELINA ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
PROSPER 950 S Preston Rd (469) 535-5539 LITTLE ELM 27100 Hwy 380 (972) 347-9630
Powered by FlippingBook