Behind the Scenes at CISD
Clifton Elementary School
April 14, 2015
May 2015 Bond Referendum
In February, the Clifton ISD Board of Trustees called for a $28 million bond proposal for the construction of replacement facilities for the 75 year-old Clifton Elementary School and 65 year-old Bettis Auditorium.
Replacement elementary school-$22.2 million Replacement auditorium-$5.1 million Property acquisition, road construction, parking
improvements-$700,000
What’s Proposed
A building that meets current building standards of the Texas Education Agency Pre-Kindergarten classrooms -TEA standard 800 sf (current size
651 sf)
Kindergarten classrooms-TEA standard 800 sf (current size 1021 sf)
First Grade classrooms-TEA standard 800 sf (current size 588 sf)
Second Grade classrooms-TEA standard 700 sf (current size 588 sf)
What’s Proposed
A building that meets current building standards of the Texas Education Agency Library-TEA Standard 3000 sf (current size 2,112 sf)
40% increase in size of Library
Art is not required to be offered at the Elementary level
Art Room would be 1200 sf (current size 819 sf)
47% increase in size of Art Room
Current size of Music room is adequate at 1200 sf
Music room would be 1200 sf with appropriate acoustics
Art Teacher-Brenda SmithCurrent Art Program
Art is housed in the former Home Economics Room that was built in 1950.
Art Room – kiln and exhaust for kiln
Art Room –Over 3500 Art projects stored at the same time. Storage is at capacity.
Art Room – Insufficient wall space for mounting dry erase board.
Art Room-Floor space is often utilized for storage.
Librarian-Lori Kleibrink aka “Mrs. K”Current Library Services
Library – Mrs. K provides lessons to PK- Grade 5
Library – Library shelving is at capacity. Books are being shelved on top of bookcases.
Library – Books are being stored in rolling carts.
Library - Students stand to use computers because library items are stored below computer tables.
Teacher Professional Library has reached capacity.
Library – Books shelved on top of bookcases.
Music Program -Beth FryCurrent Music Program
Music Room-Cinder block construction lacks acoustics.
Music Room – Exposed duct work
Music Room – Fan in the Music office
Music Room – Storage spaces for props, music stands, and equipment is at capacity.
Music1st place Choir Performance
Tax Impact The homestead tax ceiling is the dollar amount limit
on the school taxes paid by a person age 65 or older. The tax ceiling is the amount of tax a person age 65 or older pays in the year that person qualified for the age 65 or older exemption. The school taxes on the residence homestead of a person age 65 or older may not go above the amount of the tax ceiling.
However, if improvements such as an addition of a garage or family room are made after a tax ceiling has been established, the tax ceiling will be adjusted to a higher level to reflect the value of the addition to the residence homestead.
Tax Impact
The school taxes on the residence homestead of a person age 65 or older may currently be below the homestead tax ceiling amount because Clifton ISD’s tax rate decreased or stayed the same from 2008-2014. The school taxes on the residence homestead of a person age 65 or older may not go above the amount of the homestead tax ceiling.
