Aug. 16, the GISD Board of Trustees called for a bond election on Nov. 8 that would fund the building of replacement campuses for 72-year-old Greenville Middle School and 72-year-old L.P. Waters Early Childhood Center.
The new campuses would accommodate enrollment growth. In addition, a new middle school would allow for expanded course offerings, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes. Sixth-graders would move to the new campus, providing additional capacity at Travis Elementary, which would alleviate crowding at the elementary level. Below are preliminary schematic designs, based on staff, student and community input. The new L.P. Waters building would include a family resource room that would be used for meetings and events. It would feature a commemorative wall and mural devoted to honoring the history of Carver High School, which was the original campus built in 1950 that now houses L.P. Waters.
If you see any information that needs clarification, or if you have any questions, contact us at feedback@greenvilleisd.com.
Tax impact
The bond referendum will total $136.5 million and is estimated to have a tax impact of 3 cents per $100 taxable property value. It is a pared-down version of the failed November 2021 bond issue, which would have funded more projects and would have had a higher tax impact of 11.15 cents per $100 taxable property value. Tax impact scenarios are illustrated below.
Voting
Voters will have from Oct. 24-Nov. 4 to cast ballots during early voting, or they can cast ballots on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. The last day to
register to vote in time to participate in this election is Tuesday, Oct. 11. New residents are encouraged to check their voter registration cards to ensure their current address is on file. Only registered voters who reside within GISD boundaries are eligible to vote in the election.
Community Feedback
This summer, GISD held a series of public visioning meetings to discuss design ideas for a potential new middle school and Pre-K center. Attendees shared their input on topics such as building floor plans, exterior design and the best ways to honor the legacy of Carver High School. During the formulation of the earlier bond proposal, a Citizens Advisory Committee composed of 47 community and staff members from across the district, met to analyze current district facilities, as well as enrollment and demographic trends. The committee’s members, meeting schedules, resources and presentations can be found HERE. Additional information about the bond issue can be found HERE.
