On April 8, 2019, the ADM Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution ordering a special election on the issuance of a $15,750,000 general obligation bond to provide funds to construct, build, furnish and equip a new elementary building and improve the site. The board received a petition requesting an election on the issuance of the bond. The petition needed signatures of at least 25 percent of those voting in the last election of school officials. The petition was signed by 189 eligible electors of the school district. Board Secretary Nancy Gee will next file the petition for the proposition for the ballot with the Dallas County Commissioner of Elections. The special election is set for June 25, 2019.
The call for a special election comes nearly a year after the Board approved the start of a Facility Master Planning process to study enrollment growth and determine future facility needs for the district. A Board-approved committee comprised of community members, teachers, administrators, city mayors, and board members was created to study district needs and to provide recommendations.
Over a nine-month period, the committee evaluated current ADM facilities, identified capacity levels for current buildings, studied future enrollment projections, explored neighborhood and attendance center options and developed a draft concept for public input. Public input meetings were held in June and December of 2018. In January the final committee report was presented to the ADM Board of Education. The final report included a recommendation for the construction of a new elementary building to serve grades 2-4.
When asked about the special election, School Board President Tim Canney stated, “This is an exciting time for ADM Schools. Our Facility Master Planning Committee did an excellent job exploring all options and the Board has utilized their recommendation of a new 2-4 elementary school. We are pleased to be able to call a bond election and at the same time approve a no tax rate increase budget for fiscal year 2020.”
ADM Superintendent, Greg Dufoe added, “The construction of a new elementary school would help to relieve enrollment pressures throughout the district. I am proud of the great community support we have for our district, and I am looking forward to the June election.”
ADM will share additional information over the next three months, with public forums being planned for May and June