ORANGEFIELD, Texas — Voters in the Orangefield Independent School District have said yes to a $42.9 million bond.
The bond will be used to fund the construction, acquisition, renovation, expansion, improvement, and equipment of school buildings in the district.
Proposition A passed with 1,044, or 69%, of the votes cast.
The bond will include adding additional instructional and cocurricular spaces, new career and technical education facilities as well as district-wide security and site improvements.
The levying of a tax to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the costs of any related credit agreements will be a property tax increase for people living within the Orange County school district.
All three of the district's campuses will get upgrades with most being made to the high school.
Orange County has seen a major boom in business and population growth. This money will help the district address the growing demand for space.
The bond will address classroom sizes and safety concerns.
After a steering committee toured the campuses they recommended upgrades to classrooms and security according to Orangefield Superintendent Shaun Mcalpin.
"The board of trustees feels strongly about providing the best environment for our students," he said.
"The junior high will also have about six to seven additional classrooms. The high school will see anywhere from eight to ten classrooms. We want to ensure that they have the proper door locking mechanism, the fencing," Mcalpin said.
Bond money will also be used to get Orangefield Elementary students out of temporary buildings and into real classrooms according to Mcalpin.
"They were made available to the district after Harvey and it allowed us some additional space for our students. Now at our elementary we're pretty much using all of those spaces," he said.
Mcalpin told 12News that these upgrades are something the district needs due to the recent growth and development in Orange County.
"It was a 12% increase over the last 20 years and a 4% increase over the last 10," said Mcalpin.
Jerad Spencer, a broker with Spencer Real Estate said the new Golden Triangle Polymers plant is largely responsible.
Mcalpin said the bond would increase the tax rate by 35 cents. Homeowners 65 and older are eligible to be exempted.