A public meeting regarding the upcoming bond election will take place at 6:30 p.m. today, April 20, in the Canyon High School auditorium.

The meeting will clarify any questions about the $34.8 million bond proposed by Canyon ISD to help expand the district’s facilities. Randall county voters will make the decision on whether to pass the bond at the May 9 election. The bond is set to cover the cost of building a new intermediate school east of 1-27, expanding City View Elementary and replacing roofs around the district.

“We started out with a board subcommittee made of three members,” Superintendent Mike Wartes said. “We studied the capacities and the enrollment of all the campuses and recommended the current bond proposal. Then, we put together a growth and facilities community committee made of parents and community members representing every campus in the district. The same information was given to them, and they endorsed and supported the bond.”

The bond will increase the tax rate by a maximum of 5.5 cents raising the cost to $55 per $100,000 taxable home.

“We are currently at 17.5 cents, but if the bond passes the tax rate will be at 23 cents,” Wartes said. “That will make the total tax rate two cents lower than what it was after the 2007 bond that was $30.5 million to build Hillside Elementary, City View Elementary and add on to Randall High School. This bond will raise $34.8 million, which is more than the 2007 bond for less money.”

Wartes said the district grows by about 1,000 students every six to seven years.

“Most of this growth is occurring in the south, southwest part of Amarillo,” Wartes said. “It is projected that about 80% of growth in Amarillo will occur in CISD over the next 10 years, especially in the City View and Greenway areas.”

Because of this constant growth in the district, Greenways Intermediate has reached its capacity of 864 students.

“They have continually grown and have 906 current students,” Wartes said. “That is the reason for this bond. The board is asking our taxpayers to build another school so that we can take students out of that school. If the bond passes, we will open the new intermediate campus in 2018. At that time, we will have 592 students at the new school leaving 380 students at Greenways. Then will have a lot of years so we can hold that growth. We are trying to make this a long-term solution, not just a short-term solution.”

The bond money would also go toward expanding City View Elementary in preparation for the expected population growth in the area.

“At City View, we are asking to enlarge that campus by approximately four rooms and a couple of specialty rooms,” Wartes said. “This will give us enough room to enlarge that to about 704 students. The capacity right now is 616.”

The bond does not directly affect the Canyon area schools but the board is already looking at possible future plans because of growth in the south part of the district.

“The future will involve the Canyon side because of growth that is occurring in south Amarillo,” Wartes said. “At this time, the board thinks we can delay the decision for expansion for a while. Crestview and Reeves-Hinger are beginning to fill up but we have space at Canyon High, Canyon Junior High and Canyon Intermediate. At some point they are going to have to consider what to do with the elementary schools that feed the Canyon feeder pattern. The board thinks that can be delayed for now.”