Superintendent’s Corner

Editor’s note: Diboll school trustees have proposed a $22.5 million bond referendum for a new facility. Election Day is Nov. 3. Superintendent Gary Martel has submitted the following answers to questions he’s heard about the bond:

1. Why are we paying an “outside architectural firm” to help pass this bond?

We have not paid one dime to this firm. This firm has been hired by our school board to be our architects on this project. They will only be paid if the bond passes and they design the buildings. At that point, their fee for architectural services is 6 percent of the guaranteed maximum price or competitive sealed proposal costs approved by the board. This is the fee that most architectural firms charge to design buildings. This information was presented to our Facility Committee by Claycomb and Associates.

2. If there is no school on the property where the original H.G. Temple School was then the property “goes back to Temple.”

Not True.

This property belongs to Diboll ISD.

3. The property and building where Family Literacy is located was given to the school district by Temple. What will that building would be used for if the Family Literacy program goes to the new wing by the auditorium at elementary? Temple is letting us use this property; we pay the utilities and up-keep at this time. 4. Can the school district have early convenience voting at the Homecoming Football game and the Fall Festival at Temple Elementary? YES. Early convenience voting must be approved by the Department of Justice. Diboll ISD has sent all necessary documents to the Department of Justice. Voters have the right to vote how they want at any approved voting site. These sites were discussed in Facility meetings and the committee agreed that this would offer anyone that is registered to vote in Diboll ISD the opportunity to vote conveniently while attending a game or school function. They may vote as they wish. These sites will be staffed by early voting clerks and fall under the same strict guidelines as all other voting areas. 5. Will Diboll ISD, PTA and other organizations work with the H.G Temple Alumni Association to preserve the heritage and history of the Elementary school at its current location and at the new location? YES. Diboll ISD will be working closely with the Alumni Association to make sure that the heritage and history of H.G. Temple is preserved. 6. Will the name of the new elementary school be changed? No plans have been discussed or made to change the name of the school. The new elementary school will still be called Temple Elementary. 7. Here’s the quote on senior homesteads: Existing senior homestead tax bills are not affected by this bond election. Their tax bills are frozen unless they make significant improvements to their homes. Even if their appraisals go up, their tax bills remain the same. Even if the rate goes up, their tax bills remain the same. 8. Angelina County Appraisal District gave us this information about Ag land: Ag land (pasture) is only valued at $90 an acre. So if you have 100 acres, it is only valued at $9,000. 9. Educational Research says, “Updated facilities positively impact students’ achievement, attitudes and behaviors.” Kids are going to achieve more, have better attitudes toward education and behave better with new or upgraded schools.