Since voters approved the $300.1 million bond referendum in October 2003, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District staff has been working on the sequencing of projects. Since this bond referendum will take six to eight years to complete, the projects will be divided into several phases. As the district implements the bond referendum, I will use this column to keep the community updated on the progress we are making. In January, the School Board signed off on Phase I, and the first sale of bonds will occur in late March. In selecting the projects for Phase 1, we used these two guidelines: 1) address the highest priority of needs and 2) stay within the financial limitations defined during the referendum process, which was to issue $50 to $60 million of bonds per year. The Phase I projects total $56. 4 million and include the following: Newman Smith High School-$23 million. This project will complete the second phase of the school's renovation. Major areas that will be addressed are science classrooms, fine arts space and athletic facilities. Janie Stark Elementary School-$11.5 million. This project is a complete renovation of a building originally constructed in 1963. With eight temporary classrooms currently on site, additional classroom space will be built. June R. Thompson Elementary School-$9.5 million. This project is a complete renovation of a building originally constructed in 1974 as well as additional classroom space. The school currently uses seven temporary classrooms. Pre-Kindergarten Center-$4.4 million. The Pre-Kindergarten Center will move to the former United Methodist Church of Carrollton building after the facility is remodeled. The space will be larger than the current center and will accommodate more students. The site of the current Pre-Kindergarten Center will be used for a new elementary school. These funds along with approximately $3 million from a prior bond sale will complete this project. Technology Projects-$7.0 million. The first phase of technology projects will include classroom presentation equipment as well as maintaining the current level of computer technology and the district wide area network (WAN), and upgrading telephone systems. Miscellaneous & Land-$1.0 million. These funds will address any site or campus issues that may arise during the construction projects. Now that the projects for Phase I have been chosen, design work will begin. I am so pleased with the approach that the district takes in designing schools. People who use the facilities are involved throughout the entire process. For each master plan, teachers, administrators, parents and facility services employees work as a design team with the selected architectural firm. By collaborating in this way, the projects meet the needs of students and teachers and are also serviceable and efficient. C-FB ISD is not only committed to offering the best instructional program in the country but also providing state-of-the-art facilities that will enhance learning. Thank you, C-FB ISD community for valuing public education and providing the funds that allow us to create school facilities for the future - our students. January 2004 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003

News | District | Schools | Divisions & Departments | Employment | Superintendent & Board | Calendars | Community | CFB Links cfbinfo@cfbisd.edu 1445 North Perry Rd Carrollton, TX  75006 (972) 466-6100 Phone (972) 323-5765 Fax Some links may require the FREE Acrobat Reader Download Here