Red Oak ISD's student enrollment has increased and is projected to grow even more. Currently, ROISD Middle School is overcrowded, and YOU have the opportunity to ​help! Vote YES for building an additional middle school for our students.
5 REASONS TO VOTE YES
1
OUR KIDS ARE WORTH IT
The ROISD tax rate will not increase as a result of this bond, so if the bond passes you won't be paying any more than you normally would each month. Your home value may increase, which would increase your total tax bill, but that is determined by the county appraisal district - not this bond or ROISD. The ballot will say "This is a tax increase." It simply means that issuance of new bonds increases the term of debt repayment at the current tax rate.
2
NOW IS THE TIME
Not only will delaying these projects cost more later due to the escalation of construction costs, but the district will have to use maintenance and operations funds to pay for additional portable buildings required to accommodate capacity. Portable classrooms are not a good long-term solution for our students or teachers. Also, passing the bond election in May 2023 is our last chance to have the new middle school open in August of 2025. If the bond is not approved, the timeline for opening the new campus will be delayed, creating an even bigger capacity issue.
3
SAFETY
The current Red Oak Middle School is over capacity and has already expanded to other buildings to accommodate students. However, support facilities such as the cafeteria, bathrooms, band halls and locker rooms, do not adequately support the high enrollment. Requiring students to move between buildings throughout the school day causes concern due to outside accessibility. Having smaller class sizes creates a more engaged student body, which also means better attendance and fewer discipline issues.
4
PROVIDE MORE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY
An additional middle school would create an ideal enrollment count for both campuses that would allow students to find their way via programs offered – i.e. Instead of 1,600 students competing for the yearbook editor, lead theater role, spot on cheer squad or basketball team, Honors classes, etc. – they are competing against 800, and creates more opportunities for students.
5
RED OAK ISD IS STILL GROWING
Although the previous bonds to add a new middle school were not approved, the growth steadily continued. Nearly 300 students have been added just since last year, and the projected enrollment will top 7,100 by 2026, just three years down the road. Data from the City of Red Oak states more than 2,200 new single-family homes are on track to be completed in the next four years, with an average of 2.95 people per home. Our current middle school is at 160% capacity with 1,600 students. An additional middle school with 1,200 capacity would allow us to have two 800-student schools with room to add over 800 additional students in the future.