Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 6

Thank you for your support

By Dr . Jamie Wilson Superintendent of Schools

As we close another school year , we should celebrate the accomplishments of our students , specifically the Class of 2017 . Our 1,640 graduates earned $ 23.2 million in scholarships from colleges and universities that span the country . I always take a great deal of pride in the work of our students and teachers in the classroom , and I know these young women and men will make us proud as they work to pursue their dreams .

As our district rapidly grows , we continue to try and maximize the funding we receive from local tax dollars and from the state , which is why our Trustees called for a Tax Ratification Election ( TRE ). Fortunately , the TRE will not ask voters to approve an increase to the current tax rate , it will simply ask for an approval of swapping two cents from the debt service tax ( currently 50 cents ) to the maintenance and operations tax ( currently at $ 1.04 ) for the upcoming school year .
This move would allow us to capture more funds from the state – approximately $ 4 million – and increase the monies spent on regular maintenance ( raised to $ 1.06 with debt service dropping to 48 cents ), while keeping our current tax rate of $ 1.54 per $ 100 in property values the same .
Our district would gain flexibility in the maintenance and operations tax , which funds day-to-day expenses like utilities , campus supplies and teacher salaries , as it continues to grow . The district has seen an increase in student enrollment for six consecutive years and according to demographic projections is expected to surpass an enrollment of 30,000 students this fall .
District officials have calculated that the swap would allow Denton ISD to capture more funds from the state and keep a larger share of taxes paid currently by local property owners – approximately $ 7.9 million combined – working to support local students and teachers in our district .
Community members will have the opportunity to vote during the TRE on Saturday , Sept . 9 , with early voting the days prior . More information is available on our web site at www . dentonisd . org .
Balancing our student population growth and remaining fiscally responsible is quite a challenge . I wish to thank our Board of School Trustees for their guidance during these pasts few months . Their leadership has been steadfast and strong as we plan to meet the needs of our students .
Remember , the future is not something you enter , it is something we create .
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