Texhoma voters to decide $5.6 million school bond on Feb. 14

January 20, 2012

A new track is one of many upgrades proposed in a $5.6 million school bond Texhoma voters will consider on Feb. 14. Staff photo/Shawn Yorks

TEXHOMA — Texhoma Schools have a tradition of excellence dating back decades. And Texhoma students and athletes have been maintaining that tradition in recent years despite aging facilities. The Texhoma Board of Education hopes to change all that with a $5.6 million bond, which will go before voters on Feb. 14.
The bond includes additions to the existing gymnasium, football stadium and high school, renovations to the high school and middle school, renovations to the auditorium and construction of a new track. The old middle school building would also be demolished.
“It’s time for updates to be done,” said Texhoma Superintendent Eric Smith. “We need it tremendously.”
The district grew by 30 students this year, and the junior class alone has 40 students.
“Hopefully that’s a trend that we can keep going,” Smith said.
The auditorium was built in 1963 and in Smith’s nine years in Texhoma, nothing has been done. The building has no air conditioning. Part of the problem is money, “There just hasn’t been the money,” Smith said. “All we’ve done is upkeep. Just paint, little minor things.”
New science classrooms and labs will be added for the middle and high school students.
“Our science classroom is very small and it’s a science classroom and lab combined,” Smith said. “We don’t have a junior high lab for science. It’s important for us to get that opened up to put a lab room that both the junior high and high school science classes can use.”
Athletics-wise, 400 new seats will be added to the home side of the gym, the visitors seating will be upgraded, the concessions will move down stairs along with upgraded restrooms and a hospitality room, and the second floor will be used for trophy displays.
The home seating at the football stadium will be expanded to 800 seats, with a new press box, locker rooms and a new concession/restroom area.
A new track will also be constructed. Currently, the Texhoma track team is forced to practice at either Guymon, Goodwell or Stratford, Texas, and the district is unable to host a meet.
“If we had a track that these kids could practice on daily, it would just excel our kids that much more,” Smith said.
The district put together a bond committee to find out what the community wanted. The committee came up with the list, and decided to do it all in a single bond in order to take advantage of low interest rates and before the cost of materials increases.
The bond breaks down like this:
•$1,022,000 for high school interior renovations, new addition, science lab and restrooms. A new entrance will also be added;
•$138,000 for interior remodel of the 5th/6th grade and middle school wing to include renovations to the restroom, a flooring upgrade and a new entrance;
•$802,500 for the gymnasium, to include an expanded lobby, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, 400 more home seats and renovated visitor seating.
•$916,000 for the football stadium area, including expanding the home stands to 800 seats, a new press box, new concessions and bathrooms;
•$844,500 to replace the running track and build it to competition specifications;
•$466,000 for auditorium upgrades to include new air conditioning, lobby and restroom expansion;
•$107,000 to demolish the old middle school building.
The total construction cost comes to about $4.3 million, with about $1.35 million in interest to finance the bond, locking in lower interest rates. The 15-year bond will be funded through ad valorem taxes, which includes an increase of 29.15 mills.
In other words, if property owners paid $500 in taxes last year, the tax bill would increase by $244.17 per year, or about $20.35 per month.
“It’s going to be a high increase,” Smith said. “Bit the thing is, we all build our communities around the school districts, especially in small towns. And if we want this community to survive, we’ve got to do things for the school district.
“We all want what’s best for our kids.”