Frequently Asked Questions

  • A school bond is similar to a mortgage – it is a promise to pay back a certain amount of money that is being borrowed for a specific use, and it will be paid back with interest. There are state and federal laws and regulations on how school districts issue bonds and how the bond proceeds can be used.Description text goes here

  • A school bond must be approved by a majority of voters who live within the school district’s boundaries.

  • Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing buildings, land acquisition, technology, buses, and equipment, among other items. By law, bond funds may not be used to fund daily operating expenses, such as teacher and staff salaries or utilities, which are paid for out of the district’s Maintenance & Operation (M&O) budget.

  • School districts are required by law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to pay for capital expenditures for projects like building a new school or making renovations to existing facilities. Districts take out a loan and then pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their house.

  • District leaders have met with community members to listen to concerns and update the recommendation to address what they heard.

Bond

Proposed Projects

  • Following rigorous community input, district officials revised the bond proposal that was originally made by a citizens bond planning committee last fall. The package looks similar to what was proposed in November. However, it has been adjusted to include an additional wastewater treatment plant, funds for the purchase of land for future development sites and was adjusted to include escalation cost.

    Click here to learn more about the bond projects.

  • Yes. Brock ISD has included $46,.4 million in the bond proposal to construct a new elementary school initially built for 2nd through 4th grade to increase classroom capacity across the school district, and $18,500,000 million for a multipurpose facility to expand program offerings for Brock ISD students. The facility will be the new home for band, color guard, and other new programs offered to students as Brock ISD continues to grow. The Multipurpose Student Center will also allow current programs such as baseball, softball, track, tennis and football to have a place to practice during inclement weather conditions.

  • Our growth has exceeded the demographers projections when Brock Elementary was built. This can happen when large tracts of land are unexpectedly sold to developers, which is common in our area.

    The current student enrollment at the elementary is approximately 560 students. In 2025, when the building is expected to open, enrollment is projected to be 616 PreK-2nd grade. In the fall of 2025, when you add 3rd and 4th grade, it is projected to be 1070.

    Elementary schools in the DFW area average an enrollment of 600-850 students.

  • Brock ISD is currently working with landowners in the district. We will release the designated location prior to the election.

  • The “open concept” design of the building allows teachers and students to be flexible in how they teach and learn. Collaboration spaces are utilized for small-group instruction, interventions, peer buddy programs, and more. This flexibility makes learning more engaging, while providing more opportunities to meet the individual needs of today’s learners.

  • No. The facility will include classrooms to expand CTE opportunities for students, as well as practice space that can be utilized by organizations like color guard, band, cheerleading, track, etc.

  • The maintenance and operations budget of the school district is used to pay for day-to-day expenses like utilities, operating costs, and teacher and staff salaries. 83% of this budget goes directly to pay our teachers and staff. The state of Texas also requires Brock ISD to set aside at least three months’ operating expenses in our fund balance. After paying salaries, 17% goes toward operating expenses and maintenance of current facilities. The state’s solution is to allow school districts to call bond elections to pay for capital improvements, construction, and other projects with high costs.

  • The district’s current bonding capacity does not allow for enough funds to build an auditorium or fine arts facility large enough to meet our current and future needs. As the district continues to grow and our tax base increases, we will continue to evaluate our options in this area.

  • While bond funds cannot directly pay teacher and staff salaries, the facility improvements and program opportunities included in the proposal will expand classroom space and allow for better instructional settings that are comparable to neighboring districts.

    If additional classroom space is not approved by voters, the district will have to lease or purchase portable classrooms to accommodate student growth from the maintenance and operations budget, decreasing the amount of funds available for teacher and staff salaries.

  • Click here to see the fast growth model predictions.

  • 13.72 students per teacher in kindergarten-12th grades

Taxes and Financial Information

  • If approved by voters, the $69 million in bonds would not be sold at once. The district follows market trends when issuing bonds to incur the least amount of debt we can. If the growth slows and buildings are not needed, bonds would not be issued to fund those projects.

  • The Brock ISD total tax rate will not increase as a result of the bond election. A new law requires the ballot to include, “This is a property tax increase,” regardless of the impact to the school district’s tax rate. This is because the district will be extending the repayment term of its debt. BISD’s tax rate is anticipated to remain at 1.3903.

  • Planning for the district’s current and future needs is one of the fundamental duties of school boards and district administrators. As such, there is a constant evaluation of facilities and other needs in light of the age of district-owned structures, changes in technology, and even changes in instruction. When the district determines that it has needs beyond the capacity of the maintenance and operations budget, the Board may issue a bond. The maintenance and operations budget covers the day-to-day expenses of the district, where 83% is directed towards staff salaries and benefits. The Texas Education Agency in the Financial Integrity Ratings System of Texas (Schools FIRST Rating) sets the guideline for school districts to have three months of operating expenditures in fund balance. Maintaining the required fund balance as well as the operational needs of the district (with limited state funding) may restrict districts from building adequate savings to fund facilities and infrastructure needs to accommodate construction costs of building a new facility or repairing and renovating an older one.

  • For residents 65-years and older, their school district tax bill will not increase, even if their property values increase (excluding property improvements) as long as an approved Homestead and Over-65 Exemption application is on file with the Parker County Appraisal District, and the property has been owned as of Jan. 1 of the tax year.

Voting

  • Saturday, May 6, 2023. The last day to register to vote for the May 6, 2023 election is Thursday, April 6. Early voting is April 24 through May 2.

  • Anyone who is a registered voter and lives within the Brock ISD district boundaries is eligible to vote in this election.

  • Voter registration applications are available in most government buildings and are available at all Brock ISD campuses. To vote in the May 2023 election, your voter registration application must be postmarked by April 6.

  • To see if you’re registered, click here.

  • Parker County Precinct 3 Barn

    1111 FM 1189

    Weatherford, TX 76087