In the News...

 

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING | OCTOBER 15, 2024

PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE

The meeting opened with pledges of allegiance led by students from South Elementary.

RECOGNITIONS

Ten MISD students were recognized for being named National Merit Semifinalists and National Merit Commended Students. MISD also recognized its foreign exchange students along with the Midland High School Culinary Department for providing the meal at the September Board Meeting.

DISTRICT REPORTS

BOND 2023 UPDATE

The board heard an update on the project progress of the 2023 school bond that passed in November of 2023.

Progress at the site of Lone Star Trails Elementary is well underway with the underslab plumbing complete and 80% of the slab placed.

The Schematic Design phase of the new high schools is complete, and the Design Development phase of the new high schools is 35% complete.

The Group A Elementary Renovation (Package 3) is well underway. Schematic design will be approved by the end of this month. The package is expected to be completed in August of 2026.

The Middle School Renovation Group A (Package 4), consisting of Midland Freshman and Goddard Junior High, is progressing with the Schematic Design Development in progress. A rendering of the new entry at the current Midland Freshman High School that will be converted to a middle school was shown. The project is expected to be completed in August of 2026.

The Middle School Renovation Group B (Package 5) at Alamo Junior High was presented. The project is on track to be completed in August 2026, and a new rendering of the campus additions was shown. (Pictured)

The Elementary Safety Package (Package 6) is on track with new security cameras currently being installed. This portion of the project is anticipated to be completed in March 2025. A district-wide radio repeater system will be completed in the spring of 2025.

Work on the Midland Freshman Site Improvements (Package 7) is 50-60% complete with an anticipated completion date of November of this year. Backboards and widescreen have been added to the tennis courts, and the district is pleased to report the project is still underbudget.

Packages 8 and 9 are underway with site meetings beginning for the Elementary Group B projects having been held. The assignment of the design firm for the San Jacinto and Abell junior highs projects will be presented to the Board of Trustees at the November meeting.

As related to community engagement, information was provided surrounding updates to MidlandBond2023.com, press releases, social media posts, and included information about community engagement and the T.I.N.A virtual reality experience (pictured).

T.I.N.A, which stands for Test Immerse Navigate Analyze, will bring the new high school renderings to life, and the district will be holding viewings throughout the week for community members to attend. The community is invited to virtually walk through the new campuses at Midland High School on Tuesday, October 29 from 1:00-5:30 p.m. and at Legacy High School on Wednesday, October 30 from 1:00-5:30 p.m. At each virtual experience, community members will be able to view both campus renderings.

BILINGUAL AND ESL

This month, during the regular board meeting, the Bilingual and ESL department provided the Board of Trustees with a yearly report about the Bilingual and ESL program in accordance with TEC §29.053. In 2023, Emergent Bilingual students represented 19.8% of the student population, and this year, early indicators show the program has grown to 21.5% of the student population. The report included information on the academic progress of emergent bilingual students, the extent to which these students are developing English proficiency, the number of students who have been reclassified as English proficient, as well as professional development sessions offered for teachers and other personnel focused on training in strategies designed to support second language acquisition.

SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICT REPORT

A breakdown of the number of students served by the district was presented. Overall, MISD serves a total of 5,400 students (Sped & 504)  in the Special Services department, an increase of 225 from last year at this time.

This year, the district is pleased to be participating in the data capture year to provide the Teacher Incentive Allotment to Life Skills Teachers. Next year, data will be submitted for resource/inclusion and life skills teachers.

Areas of focus include addressing student needs and performances, evaluating and enhancing the least restrictive environment, evaluating staff needs to address the student population growth, professional growth and engaging parents.

The department has expanded the Unified Sports teams, implementing a Coffee & Cookie Crew, similar to the Diamondback Rolling Baristas, growing the Project Search partnership with Midland Memorial Hospital interns, expanding opportunities for Encore, evaluating the continuum of services, strategic staffing, and the evaluation of current placement techniques.

STRATEGIC PLAN QUARTERLY UPDATE

The first update for the 2024-25 school year of the Strategic Plan Oversight Committee was presented to the Board of Trustees.

The Strategic Plan can be viewed on the district’s website showcases goals, initiatives, and progress metrics through 2028.

Key updates were provided for two pillars of the Plan. For Student Experience, MISD has exceeded its goals for Initiative 1.1, improving AP performance with a 7% increase in scores of 3 or higher and growing the number of AP Scholars from 127 to 234. The district also surpassed its National Merit Scholar goal with 10 honorees. Initiative 1.1 promotes advanced coursework and ensures all students reach their potential, with efforts including dual credit opportunities and strategic academic planning for students needing extra support, such as credit recovery programs.

Initiative 1.3, which focuses on the Student Experience through parent engagement in academic transitions, has successfully implemented flexible workshops and scheduling, and improved communication with parents, enhancing support for underperforming students.

In Grow and Develop Staff, Initiative 7.1 aims to improve onboarding and training for district staff and has met its goals through efforts like implementing the “Teach Like a Champion” model district-wide, providing consistent instructional strategies, and implementing a consistent professional development satisfaction survey. Over 98% of participants rated professional learning sessions positively, indicating the initiative’s success in supporting new and current staff.

The district also provided an update on Goal 4, Initiative 4.1 that assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of discipline strategies and support systems. Early data for the 2024-25 school year shows a decline in student aggressive behaviors, such as fights, following consistent messaging and reinforced discipline strategies. MISD staff have improved supervision and safety measures, resulting in a steady drop in incidents. Additionally, positive feedback from the new cell phone policy has been received from both students and staff alike. While the district has seen an increase in cell phone violations, this increase can be expected as a result of stricter enforcement and accountability measures across campuses.

The next update will be presented to the Board of Trustees in February.

ACTION ITEMS

ACADEMIC UPDATE

The board voted to approve the report on Goal Progress Measures Goal Progress Measures 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 4.6 which focus on Pre-K phonological awareness and math and NWEA MAP Reading Language Arts and Mathematics Growth.  

CLI Assessments for Pre-K Phonological Awareness and Pre-K Math were presented and showed both areas are on track to meet the end of year targets.

To measure student growth, the district utilizes the Met Growth Goal metric provided by NWEA. Growth is measured from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year. Met Growth Goal is a categorical yes or no measure of whether a student met the specific growth goal that was set for them. These goals are individualized for each student and are evaluated to determine term-to-term improvement. According to NWEA MAP, 50% of students meeting their growth goal is normal.

NWEA beginning of the year data for the 2024-25 school year was presented and sets the baseline for reporting growth as the year progresses.

Next steps for improvement include tracking beginning of the year data and setting middle of the year goals.

MIDLAND CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOMINATIONS

Every biennium, the Midland Central Appraisal District (MCAD) contacts the county, city, school districts, and junior college district for their board to cast nominations for local citizens to represent their respective areas.

The board approved the district’s recommendation to nominate the current MISD representatives, Kelly Cooke, Robert Kmiec and John Kenedy, to serve a two-year term beginning in January 2025.

SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION 2024-2025 TIMELINE

In accordance with Board Policy BJCD(LEGAL) and BJCD(LOCAL), the board voted to approve the proposed timeline for evaluating the superintendent. Information included appraisal timeline, document, and the annual targets for progress towards the Board Goals through 2028.

NEXT MEETING

The next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. November 19, at the Bowie Fine Arts Academy auditorium, located at 805 Elk Ave. (Enter from “A” Street.)

LIVE STREAM

Please remember that our meetings are streamed live and archived at midlandisd.net/stream. You can view meeting agendas here.

 

Midland ISD Announces Design Renderings for High School Campuses

Projects on track to open in 2028

September 26, 2024 — Midland Independent School District (MISD) is excited to announce the release of the design renderings for the new Legacy High School and Midland High School campuses that will be built as a result of the 2023 school bond. The bond was approved by 56.12% of voters participating in the election. These campuses are set to improve educational spaces for students in 9th through 12th grade to be more conducive to twenty-first century learning and into the future. There will be a significant expansion of core curriculum classrooms, common areas and extracurricular spaces. The spaces will offer an environment that fosters academic excellence and extracurricular success.

Both comprehensive high schools will have a core student capacity of 4,200 and an academic capacity of 3,800, ensuring room for growth while providing the space necessary for education and programs.

Since the passage of the school bond in November 2023, over the course of 56 meetings, spanning an estimated 119 hours, stakeholders including district leadership, educators, parents, and community members collaborated on every detail of the final designs, ensuring that the new campuses reflect the needs of Midland’s students, teachers, and the community as a whole.

The planning for these projects, including long-range planning in 2022 and continuing with the Bond Planning Committee comprised of a 100-member citizen, staff and student committee, laid the foundation for the design and construction process. One of the key components was gathering feedback and integrating the voices of district staff, students, and community members through a community survey. The feedback was essential in guiding the design team to create plans that reflect the core values and needs expressed during the bond election. The district’s involvement in these discussions spanned from high-level executive decisions to practical insights from user groups who will use the facilities.

Both high school projects are currently on schedule to open in August 2028, with groundbreaking for both high schools to take place in the Summer of 2025. These new campuses will provide improved facilities to support MISD’s goal of delivering an exceptional educational experience, enhance safety and security, accommodate enrollment growth, and allow for the implementation of grade reconfiguration which will move the district to 9th-12th high school and 6th-8th middle school grade alignments.

As MISD continues to invest in the future of education, the district will continue to share updates and progress leading up to the groundbreaking and opening of the new campuses. The renderings and additional information about all bond projects can be found at midlandbond2023.com.

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Midland ISD Announces the Name and Mascot for New Elementary School

Midland ISD Board approves Lone Star Trails Elementary Armadillos

September 18, 2024 – Following the successful passage of the 2023 Midland ISD Bond, plans for a new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area are well underway. The 92,500 square-foot school is on track to open in August 2025. The campus will initially serve Pre-K through 6th grade, and upon grade reconfiguration in 2028, Pre-K through 5th grade.
To determine the new school’s name, mascot, and logo, a committee was formed in accordance with district policy. Members of this committee were nominated by Midland ISD school board members to represent their respective districts. MISD teachers were also invited to express interest in joining the committee through a district-wide email, and the interested teachers were then chosen randomly. A total of three meetings were held in August before finalizing the recommendation for the new elementary.
Community engagement played a crucial role in the naming process. A community-wide survey was distributed through various platforms including social media, newsletters, and the MidlandBond2023.com website, encouraging residents to submit nominations for the school’s name and mascot.
After reviewing and voting on the nominations, the committee selected “Lone Star Trails Elementary” as the school name and “Armadillos” as the mascot. Committee members participated in anonymous voting, and the choice of “Armadillos” as the mascot was unanimous. The name “Lone Star Trails Elementary” received a majority vote from the committee.
The school’s colors will be red, white, and blue, reflecting the district’s commitment to honoring the community’s input during the bond campaign. 
The Midland ISD Board of Trustees officially approved the committee’s recommended name and mascot during its regular board meeting on September 17, 2024.
“The naming process was an exciting time,” said Morgan Robertson, principal of Lone Star Trails Elementary. “The naming committee had great discussions, and we were able to keep a clear focus on the task to determine the name, mascot and logo for the new elementary. Being the principal at Midland ISD’s 40th campus is surreal, and I enjoy new and challenging learning opportunities. This monumental event of opening a new school does not happen often, and getting to be a part of it from the ground up has been an amazing experience! I look forward to learning more throughout the year and ensuring Lone Star Trails Elementary and our families have a wonderful opening of school in August of 2025.”
Committee members were in attendance at the school board meeting and were excited to see their recommendation become reality. 
“Serving on the elementary school naming committee was a truly fun process,” said committee member Beth Garza. “It was a big responsibility as well, as we went thoughtfully through every submission, both for the name and the mascot. After narrowing the selections down, we felt that our choices represented both the input from the city and West Texas very well. I can’t wait to cheer on our new school.”
For more information, please visit www.midlandbond2023.com

MISD SAVES TAXPAYERS $35.8 MILLION WITH DEFEASANCE

District plans to continue aggressively paying down debt

August 15, 2024 – This week, MISD finalized the defeasance of a significant portion of outstanding debt prior to Series 2024. The defeasance was approved during the July 2024 regular meeting of the Board of Trustees and resulted in additional savings for taxpayers. The defeasance saved taxpayers $35,812,950 on top of the $56,240,128 million that has been saved since 2012. 

“We are proud to save taxpayers this additional $35.8 million through thoughtful planning over the past decade,” said MISD Chief Financial Officer Tucker Durham. “It is our goal to provide superior financial stewardship to our taxpayers, and this is one way we are achieving our role as fiduciaries.”

After the defeasance, the district is left with an outstanding principal amount of $15,930,000, down from $125,059,986. The district plans to continue aggressively paying down debt to save taxpayers money in the long run, as shown by its track-record over the past decade. 

Since 2012, the district has saved taxpayers $92,053,078 through refinancing and defeasing existing debt. 

“We will continue monitoring our debt portfolio and aggressively paying down debt based on market trends moving forward,” said Durham. “This will help us to ensure our efforts are in the best interest of the district and community.”

REGULAR BOARD MEETING | JULY 30, 2024 5:30 PM

DISTRICT REPORTS

BOND 2023 UPDATE

The board heard an update on the project progress of the 2023 school bond that passed in November.

Topics included:

  • Information about the new elementary school including the naming process, site work updates, and the hiring process
  • Site improvements that are underway at Midland Freshman High School
  • Surveying work that has been completed at the sites of the two new high schools

Next steps include the CMAR selection for Package 3: safety and security of the first eight elementary schools, and design meetings for the new high schools that focus on teaching and learning, technology, safety and security, special education, and CTE.

A package progress tracker was shown and will be presented to the board monthly. Project progress was also presented by package and will continue to be provided each month. Click here to view the PDF of the project progress.

ACTION ITEMS

CMAR SERVICES FOR THE EIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PACKAGE

The board voted to approve the district’s recommendation to approve the ranking of offerors responding to the Request of Qualifications/Proposals #23-518 Construction-Manager At-Risk Services for Package #3 – Elementary Group “A” and authorized the Superintendent or designee to negotiate and execute a contract in accordance with the provisions of Board Policy CVD (LEGAL)/Texas Government Code, Section 2269.245 (a)-(c).

 

MEETING DETAILS

  • Bowie Fine Arts Academy Auditorium
  • 805 Elk Ave.
  • 5:30 p.m.

 

The meeting is open to the public. Those wishing to speak can sign up prior to the start of the meeting. You must be present to speak during the public comment period.

The next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

MISD breaks ground on new elementary school

First campus to begin work following bond approval

June 4, 2024 — Midland ISD broke ground on its new elementary school Tuesday morning, marking the first step in the construction of 2023 bond projects. The new 92,500 square foot school building will accommodate up to 830 students in the area of the Lone Star Trails subdivision in northeast Midland.

Construction will begin immediately, with a targeted opening date of August 2025. The campus will initially serve pre-k through sixth grade, and transition to pre-k through fifth grade when the district reconfigures with the opening of new secondary campuses in 2028.

The design of the new school will be similar to those of Yarbrough and Fasken Elementary Schools, which were built following the passage of the 2012 bond. Architects and designers collected feedback from teachers and staff from those campuses to enhance functionality and efficiency, which include minor floor plan modifications and increased parking.

“We are so fortunate to be in Midland at this time when Midlanders have and are investing in education,” said MISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Howard. “I want to thank the Midland community for saying and voting yes! Thank you for investing in the future of our students.”

Participants in the ceremonial groundbreaking included MISD executive leadership staff, Board of Trustees, representatives from Parkhill architects and MW Builders, as well as students who will be attending the school when it opens next year.

“This school will be more than just a building,” said Morgan Robertson, who has been tabbed as the school’s first principal. “It represents a bright future for MISD students- I’m excited to be a part of it!”

The new elementary school addresses multiple initiatives including safety and security, grade reconfiguration, and population growth in Midland.

A committee to name the campus will convene this summer.

The Bond Advisory Committee met for the third time to hear a report on the status of the 2023 MISD School Bond.

The committee was reminded of their roles and responsibilities and heard reports on construction and project timelines; cost of projects and finance reports; and communication and marketing efforts. Click here to read more.

OPERATIONS

Procurement procedures were presented about processes school districts must follow related to the procurement of professional services and construction processes. 

Updates were given on the bond packages, and the district reported that of the 1.4 billion bond, $1.1 billion has already been assigned to bond projects. 

The new elementary school is on schedule to open in the Fall of 2025 with the groundbreaking scheduled for June 6th of this year. Since this school is a prototype of the current Fasken and Yarbrough elementaries, district leaders and architects have worked closely with current tenants of the campuses, including principals, nurses, and special education departments, to make adjustments to the design. The budget for the new elementary school is $53,300,000, and the district is pleased to report that the construction bid came in approximately $8,500,000 under budget. 

The committee was presented schematic design views of the high schools, and an overview was given of the layout including academic space placement, traffic flow, parking spaces, fine arts placements, and athletic fields. The designs shown are preliminary and subject to change throughout the design process. 

The elementary school “Group A” package was discussed and includes campuses currently without security vestibules. Construction on these projects is expected to begin in the spring of 2025.

Package 4, Midland Freshman and Goddard Junior High, make up the first middle school package. These campuses have the same floor plans and will be converted to middle schools when grade reconfiguration takes place in 2028. 

Alamo Junior High School makes up the Middle School Group B package. Elements of this project include new classrooms, a secured vestibule, a new library, dining expansion and kitchen upgrades, and a new sprinkler system. Construction is expected to begin in the Summer of 2025.

Package 6 includes access control updates, security cameras, and emergency communication enhancements to 23 elementary schools. The community can expect to see construction begin this summer.

Site Improvements to Midland Freshman High School encompasses Package 7. Construction on this project is expected to begin this summer.

The remaining bond packages associated with the 2023 MISD school bond are continuing to be developed.

FINANCE

BOND SALE

The first bond sale related to the voter-approved 2023 bond was discussed to provide insight into the successful pricing.

The district’s bond pricing ranked among the top three deals in the negotiated municipal bond market on March 5th for a total issuance amount of $900 million. There was much interest from investors, which led to a lower-than-planned interest rate.

During the bond planning process in 2023, the district assumed an interest rate on bondsales to be between 5.25% – 5.50%. The district is pleased to report that due to the high interest from investors, the true interest rate came in significantly lower at 4.09%, resulting in approximately $310 million in interest savings when compared to the planning amount.

Historical debt savings from refunding and defeasing outstanding debt dating back to Series 2012 were presented along with a future defeasance scheduled for August of this year. The defeasance will pay off a large majority of the existing principal amount for Series 2015-2020.

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY DASHBOARD & WEBPAGE

A dedicated page to MISD Bond 2023 financials has been added to midlandbond2023.com. A pillar of the page includes the financial dashboard, and has been added to provide the community with project spending progress.

COMMUNICATIONS

WEBSITE

The midlandbond2023.com website continues to be used to inform the community of project updates. The website has received major updates in recent weeks including the dedicated financial page, campus profile updates, and an In the News section.

MISD releases bond financial dashboard

District provides community with financial transparency surrounding Bond 2023 projects

May 15, 2024 — Midland Independent School District is pleased to unveil its financialdashboard related to Bond 2023. The dashboard was developed with community members in mind and aims to be user-friendly.

The initial landing page on the financial dashboard reflects the bond budgets by project packages. Filters allow viewers to dive deep into specific projects. Additional pages on the dashboard include bond budgets broken down by campus, assigned project packages by campus, the scope of work at each campus, total dollar amounts assigned for each project category, and project percentage completion by expenditure.

As projects near completion, the percentage of completed line items will continue to rise while the percentage remaining will continue to decrease until all projects outlined in the bond program are completed.

“The financial dashboard was created to provide the Midland community financialtransparency related to projects of the 2023 MISD school bond,” said MISD Chief Financial Officer Tucker Durham. “Our hope is that this comprehensive tool will give taxpayers confidence in the projects and financial spending of the bond projects.”

The dashboard, along with additional financial information, can be found at midlandbond2023.com/finance. The goal of the dashboard is to provide the community with the utmost transparency regarding the financial aspects of the school bond. The website will be regularly updated with information throughout the duration of the bondprogram.

Special Board Meeting Called to Discuss MISD Owned Property at Ranchland Hills Golf Course

Comments surrounding the voter-approved site of the new Midland High to take place

A special board meeting of the Midland ISD Board of Trustees has been called for Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bowie Fine Arts Academy auditorium. Trustees will provide their comments about the district-owned property at 1600 E. Wadley Avenue; however, no action will be taken at this meeting.

March Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees

The preview of the board meeting that was promised to this committee was inadvertently not sent. Please accept our apologies and find a recap of the meeting below. We will ensure these previews are sent each month before the regularly scheduled meetings in the future.  

The board heard a report on the project progress of the 2023 school bond that passed in November.

Items included a review of the second Bond Advisory Committee Meeting that took place in February, design modifications to the new elementary school that will be located in Lone Star Trails, geotechnical services for the new high schools, updates to the project packages, and information related to the bond sales. Media coverage was also presented.

Coming Soon: A financial dashboard will soon be available on MidlandBond2023.com to provide the community with the utmost transparency regarding bond expenditures.

The board voted to approve Terracon Consulting, Inc. to provide geotechnical and engineering services for the two new high school projects.

High investor demand for MISD bond pushes interest rate lower

30-year bond finalizes at 4.09%

March 6, 2024 — The first of two bond offerings from 2023’s successful Midland ISD bondelection hit the market Tuesday, and investors were eager to buy in.

The interest rate for the Series 2024 bond is 4.09%, paid semi-annually. It was anticipated during planning that the bond would have a rate of 5.25%; however, incredibly high demand from investors pushed the rate down.

In the first 30 minutes, there were twice as many orders than what was available. After 90 minutes, that figure rose to 5.6 times “oversubscribed.”

“There were 130 different investors who placed orders, which speaks highly of the district’s credit rating and recognition in the market,” said Tucker Durham, MISD Chief Financial Officer.

Residents in Midland and Ector counties received first priority. 

The Series 2024 bond amount is $873,930,000, has a 30-year term and was given an Aaa rating by Moody’s and AAA by S&P. Raymond James was the senior underwriter. Other underwriters were Frost Bank, BOK Financial, Baird, FHN Financial and Estrada Hinojosa.

The bonds are structured for a 30 year repayment, which is what the bond planning was based around. Assuming the bonds are paid to maturity, and no early payments or refinancing takes place, the estimated overall cost is $310 million less than originally estimated during the bondplanning process.

The second offering is anticipated for 2026. 

MISD holds an Aa1 bond credit rating from Moody’s, which recently improved its outlook to “positive” from stable. S&P rates the district AA. MISD also carries a AAA rating from the TexasPermanent School Fund.

In November, voters approved a $1.4 billion school bond that will include the construction of new Midland and Legacy high school campuses, construction of a new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area of Midland, safety and security upgrades, and improvements to aging facilities districtwide.

 

MISD bond credit ratings remain high

Midland, Ector County residents to get priority for investing in school bond

February 28, 2024 — The Moody’s and S&P bond credit rating agencies have once again given Midland ISD high marks, which can lead to low interest rates for the upcoming bond sale.

Moody’s issued MISD an Aa1 rating and improved its outlook to “positive” from “stable.” S&P confirmed its AA rating. 

“These high ratings are great for both bond investors and Midland taxpayers,” said Tucker Durham, MISD Chief Financial Officer. “They show investors that MISD bonds are a low-risk investment. For the taxpayer, these ratings should result in a lower interest rate, saving on total repayment.”

The district also carries a AAA rating from the Texas Permanent School Fund.

The first bond offering is anticipated on or about Tuesday, March 5. Residents in Midland and Ector counties will receive first priority. Raymond James was selected as the senior underwriter.

In November, voters approved a $1.4 billion school bond that will include the construction of new Midland and Legacy high school campuses, construction of a new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area of Midland and improvements to campuses districtwide.

Surveyor selected for new high schools

First bond issue anticipated for March 2024

February 16, 2024 — From finishing surveying for the new elementary school to preparing its first bond sale, Midland ISD has been very busy keeping Bond 2023 projects moving forward.

Surveyor for New High Schools

At its monthly meeting Feb. 13, the Midland ISD Board of Trustees selected Dunaway and Associates as the firm to perform surveying services for the new Legacy High and Midland Highcampuses.

Architect chosen for Goddard, MFHS projects

The board approved JSA Architects as the architectural and engineering firm that will provide planning, design and construction administration to Goddard Junior High and Midland Freshman. These campuses were packaged together because they have the same floor plan and have highstudent capacities.

Grade reconfiguration is slated for 2028, and MFHS will be converted into a middle school. 

Upgrades to Existing Elementary Schools

Vandergriff Group Architects was chosen as the architectural and engineering firm that will provide planning, design and construction administration for an eight elementary school package for the Bond of 2023.  These schools were packaged together as a priority because they currently do not have security vestibules. 

New Elementary School

Surveying and geotechnical service work is complete at the site of the new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area of Midland.

Bond Underwriting

MISD is finalizing the request for proposal process for bond underwriters, and the first bond sale is anticipated for March 2024. 

Trustees approve architect for new high schools

Work underway at site of new elementary school

January 17, 2024 — Work is already underway on Midland ISD’s new elementary school, and on Tuesday at its January meeting, Trustees made several decisions related to making Bond 2023 projects a reality.

Future Elementary

This past week, crews were at the future site of the new elementary school taking soil samples, which is a step in determining what’s necessary for the facility’s foundation. The new school is being built in the Lone Star Trails area, generally located in northeast Midland.

District leaders, the bond program manager and campus representatives from Special Education, Child Nutrition Services, Transportation and Technology, as well as the current principals from Fasken and Yarborough elementary schools, met for a kickoff meeting to discuss the new school and areas where the design can be improved. 

The school will be similar in design to Fasken and Yarborough, so gathering feedback from campus representatives currently working in these buildings was a critical step in improving the design.

The new elementary school is on track to open in August 2025.

Architecture & Engineering Selection

Trustees approved a pool of 12 qualified architecture and engineering firms to be considered for professional design services on projects related to the 2023 Bond Program. 

A selection committee made up of district leaders evaluated 18 submissions to determine its recommendation for the pool. The committee based its recommendation on each firm’s overall experience with similar projects, specific experience of proposed project team members, capacity to perform the projects within the bond program timeline given their intended scale, experience in the Midland area and past relationship with the district. 

Trustees approved Pfluger Architects as the firm from the approved pool to design the district’s new Legacy High and Midland High school projects.

Other firms in the pool are Parkhill, WRA Architects, MWM Architects, Jacob & Martin, DLR Group, Vandergriff Group Architects, JSA Architects, Chapman Harvey Architects, JDMA Architects, Corgan and PBK Architects.

Surveying & Geotechnical Services Selection

Trustees also approved a pool of vendors for surveying and geotechnical services. Surveyors selected to be considered for 2023 Bond Projects are Centurion Planning & Design, Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, KMCE, Dunaway Associates, Halff Associates and Maverick Engineering. 

For geotechnical services, CQC Testing & Engineering, Millennium Engineers Group, Terracon, Magrym Consulting and Terra Testing were approved. 

Bond Underwriting

Twenty-two submissions were submitted for the bond underwriting pool. Once the reviews have been completed by district administrators, the pool of bond underwriters will be presented to the board at the February board meeting.

 

The bond order will be presented at the February board meeting.

 

MISD board approves architect for new elementary school

Requests for quotes issued for architects, underwriters and surveyors

December 20, 2023 — The Midland community in November passed a $1.4 billion bond referendum that will see new high schools, a new elementary school and improvements at campuses across Midland ISD. A month later, work has already begun.

The MISD Board of Trustees at its regular meeting Tuesday, received an update on the progress underway. 

New Elementary School

Trustees voted to approve the hiring of architecture and engineering services firm Parkhill for the new elementary school to be built in the fast-growing Lone Star Trails area of Midland.

Parkhill is the same firm that was chosen for the construction of Fasken and Yarbrough elementary schools last decade, and the new school’s design will be similar to these facilities. This saves money in the design and construction phases and speeds up the construction timeline. 

Plus, the design has been very popular with teachers, students, and staff. It implements a “neighborhood” model, whereby each grade has its own dedicated space that includes restrooms, moveable walls to enlarge classrooms when needed, and a common area.

Requests for Quotes

Several RFQs have been issued.

Scoring of the submissions from architects and engineers is currently underway, and a pool of firms will be brought to trustees in January for consideration of approval. Trustees approved Parkhill as the program manager in November. 

An RFQ for underwriting services has also been issued, and responses are due Dec. 21. A committee will score the responses and bring them to the board for consideration of approval in February. Discussions concerning bond sales will begin after underwriters have been selected.

MISD has issued an RFQ for surveying and geotechnical services, and a pool of vendors will be brought to the board for consideration of approval in January.

Bond Advisory Committee

The committee held its first meeting in November, where its 24 members received reports on District Operations, Finance, and communications efforts. The committee will meet quarterly.

The advisory committee, as well as the bond planning committee, were recognized at the December trustees meeting for their dedication to this massive undertaking that will reshape education in Midland for decades to come.

 

Voters approve Midland ISD $1.4 billion school bond

November 7, 2023 — Midland County has released unofficial results and determined Midlandvoters passed a $1.415 billion school bond Tuesday. Midland ISD is grateful for the community’s support of the projects in the bond. This is the first school bond in Midland to address secondary schools in 20 years.

The bond was approved 56.12% (12,404 votes for) to 43.88% (9,699 votes against) with 22,103 voters participating in the election. The final voting results from Midland County are unofficial until the Midland ISD Board of Trustees canvass the election results at a Special School Board Meeting set for noon Friday, Nov. 17.

The called bond election was a culmination of 18 months of work that began with a Long-Range Planning Committee in 2022. From February through July of this year, a 100-member citizen, staff and student committee reviewed the work of the Long-Range Planning Committee, facilities assessments, growth projections and a demographic study to identify the needs of existing facilities and the future of infrastructure for the district. The committee identified facilities and projects to serve all students across multiple grade levels and programs, and discussed grade reconfiguration, building capacities, the budget outlook and inflationary impact on construction materials and labor. 

The funds from the school bond will allow the district to implement grade reconfiguration by building two comprehensive high schools to accommodate ninth through 12th grade students; moving to a traditional middle school model of sixth through eighth grade students; and elementary schools housing pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students across the district. The bond will address safety and security and aging facility needs district-wide, as well as build a new elementary school in northeast Midland. 

The website midlandbond2023.com contains detailed information on the projects and initiatives made possible by this crucial investment in the educational infrastructure of Midland. The website will continue to be updated throughout the course of the work that is part of Bond 2023. 

Key projects that will benefit from the school bond include:

  • Grade Reconfiguration: The restructuring to a traditional sixth through eighth grade middle school model and moving ninth graders to the comprehensive high schools will allow for the expansion of advanced coursework, electives and lessen travel time.
  • Modernized Facilities: Aging schools will receive much-needed updates to provide students with a safe and inspiring learning environment.
  • Improved Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority, and the bond will provide the necessary resources to enhance security in schools district-wide.
  • Upgraded Technology: The bond will enable us to invest in up-to-date technology infrastructure to enhance the learning experience and prepare our students for the digital age they will encounter after graduation.

“Thank you to the Midland community for recognizing the importance of investing in our children’s education and their future. In Midland ISD, we are truly educating the future,” said Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Howard. “On behalf of our students and staff, I am so thankful for the community’s trust and support.”

“Thank you to the Bond Planning Committee who, from the beginning, was committed to developing a bond program the community would get behind and support,” Howard continued. “Our community is growing, and I appreciate our community for recognizing that this growth has created needs that cannot be met in our existing aging secondary facilities.”  

Midland ISD will work diligently to ensure the bond funds are utilized efficiently and to complete the approved projects on time and within budget. Monthly reports will be presented to the Board of Trustees during regularly scheduled board meetings. Quarterly reports will be presented to the Bond Advisory Committee made up of community members and stakeholders, and annual meetings will be held to bring the Bond Planning Committee back together for a recap of the year’s projects and upcoming projects.

MISD to recommend creation of Bond Advisory Committee

Group would provide oversight of projects if bond passes

October 10, 2023 — Midland ISD is pursuing a $1.4 billion bond that would build new Midland and Legacy high school facilities, a new elementary school and enhance safety and security districtwide, among other measures.

If passed, the bond will not be a “set it and forget it” process. 

MISD administration is recommending to the board the formation of a Bond Advisory Committeeto oversee all projects. The purpose is to provide the community with accountability and transparency as bond-funded projects progress. 

This oversight committee will meet quarterly to receive updates on construction and project timelines, project costs, financial reports and communication and marketing efforts to communicate the ongoing work until each project is completed. 

Updates will be presented at least annually to the Bond Planning Committee, a collection of about 100 community and MISD staff members and students whose efforts this year formulated a bond proposal, which the Board of Trustees approved in August for public vote in this year’s general election. The Board will receive updates from administration throughout the process, as well as a final report from the Bond Advisory Committee upon completion of all projects.

In addition, the district would work with an outside project manager to oversee the work taking place including staying on top of timelines, providing financial oversight, and moving the construction forward.

SAVE THE DATES

The last day to register to vote is today Tuesday, Oct. 10, and the registration process can be started at co.midland.tx.us/369/Register-to-Vote.

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 23, and runs through Friday, Nov. 3. 

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

MISD addresses concerns regarding the future site of

Midland High School at Ranchland Hills

September 14, 2023 — In 2019, the owner of 1600 East Wadley Avenue (Ranchland Hills Golf Course) put the property up for sale. Midland Independent School District (MISD) purchased the land in a decision that was driven by the need to secure a suitable location for a potential new Midland High School. There were two viable options on the market at the time: Ranchland HillsGolf Course and a plot of land north of town. The latter posed significant infrastructure challenges, including utility costs of approximately $1 million per mile. A transaction occurred between a motivated seller and a willing buyer. The seller and operator of Ranchland Hills Golf Course knew the land was intended for a new high school and that the golf course would likely be closed at some point.

The acquisition of the property by MISD created discussion and concerns. However, the decision was grounded in strategic foresight. Other potential opportunities for an alternate site have been fully considered. Since 2019, there has been a lease agreement for $10,000 per month ($120,000/year) between MISD and the operators of Ranchland Hills Golf course for the term of one year which will expire in October 2024. 

A recently released concept rendering of the campus site has led to questions about the size, quantity, and placement of trees on the property. These renderings are for visualization purposes only and are subject to change. Final designs will involve additional community input and customization for individual campuses.

 

In an effort to leave no stone unturned, in recent months, four potential properties were brought forth to MISD and the facilities committee as alternate sites. However, none of these are currently on the market.

MISD Bond Committee updates recommendation

Bond recommendation to include one proposition

August 15, 2023 — Four days into the current school year, the Bond Planning Committee was presented with the same opportunities to reduce the bond costs that were presented to the Board of Trustees last week. These cost reductions would still allow for all components needed to bring facilities up to where they need to be to address growth; grade reconfiguration; and safety, security, & accessibility. Overall, $263,000,000 was reduced from the original recommendation.

Recommended Scope & Cost Modifications

Central to the bond proposal is the plan for the construction of two comprehensive high schools to replace the current 74 year old and 62 year old high school facilities. A detailed look into these facilities was taken to see what areas of the scope of work can be reduced while not impacting academic achievement. The updated blueprint for these 6A high school campuses emphasizes a core size of 4,200 students while allowing for the flexible, phased expansion of classrooms designed for 3,800 students. This aligns with enrollment projections for the next decade and provides safe and effective learning environments to serve Midland students for another 60+ years.  

For middle school solutions, the initial proposed capacity was adjusted to address what is needed for the next 10 years along with reducing interior and exterior aesthetics improvements. These reductions, however, still allow for every secondary campus to be touched by projects that would come from the bond. 

The elementary construction budget was adjusted to reflect current market trends. 

Safety, Security, and Accessibility adjustments would eliminate projects currently included in the district’s 2023-24 maintenance budget along with improvements to the existing Legacy Freshman and Midland High School campuses except those that relate to accessibility and code deficiencies. 

Improvements to aging facilities would see an elimination of all improvements to the existing Legacy Freshman Center along with the reduction of scope at the existing Midland High School to the most recent classroom addition, band hall, and auditorium.

These reductions in project scope will still allow the district to address capacity issues and move forward with grade reconfiguration. 

Opportunity to See Taxes Decrease

Over the past decade, the district has strategically collaborated with its financial advisors to refinance and defease bonds, resulting in $56 million in taxpayer savings. If the district maintains an overall tax rate of $0.9148, taxpayers might see a slight reduction in overall taxes due to the increase in the homestead exemption slated for the upcoming ballot. Additionally, if the overall tax rate remains flat, the district anticipates paying off all existing bond debt ahead of the schedule (defeasing), translating to over $30 million in taxpayer savings and shortening the payback period by 16 years. 

The district plans to maximize the advantages of the potential homestead exemption and required local compression, utilizing these measures to directly benefit taxpayers. Considering the average home value in Midland at $341,046, an updated homestead exemption of $100,000 is projected to save the average taxpayer $549 annually compared to the previous year. 

Development of Final Recommendations: 

The committee was presented with two options to potentially present to the Board of Trustees tomorrow evening- one that included a two proposition model and another that combined all projects into one proposition. A vote was taken, and the group overwhelmingly decided to present a one proposition option totaling $1,415,400,000. This proposed proposition will include: 

  • (2) Comprehensive High Schools
  • Middle School Improvements
  • Safety, Security, and Accessibility
  • Improvements to Aging Facilities
  • New Elementary School

Bond committee reaches consensus on recommendation

Members follow recommendations in community survey

June 20, 2023 — On Tuesday, the Bond Planning Committee met for its final meeting. Members hammered out what they will recommend to the board next month.

AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS …

The committee will recommend two propositions, both for the November 2023 election.

Proposition A includes:

  • The construction of brand new Midland High School and Legacy High School campuses.
  • The updating of the current LHS and Midland Freshman campuses for conversion to middle schools. MISD’s current four middle schools will also see renovations.
  • The updating of safety and security at campuses district-wide.

Proposition includes:

  • The construction of a brand new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area of northeast Midland.
  • General maintenance to campuses across the district.

The tally for Proposition A is $1.361 billion, or about $37 per month for the average homeowner. The tally for Proposition B is $317,000, or about $11 per month for the average homeowner.

COMMUNITY SURVEY SPEAKS VOLUMES

Committee members aren’t the only voices contributing to what a school bond should look like. The committee heard what the community at large had to say, and took survey feedback to heart when developing its recommendation.

Early results from the district’s community feedback survey clearly indicate a passion for building brand new Midland High and Legacy High campuses to ensure that these comprehensive high schools can accommodate future growth. In addition, new high schools should have ninth graders. Currently, ninth graders are at freshmen-only campuses.

In addition, respondents generally feel that students aren’t being educated in safe and modern learning spaces and that the condition of existing facilities is poor.

CALL A BOND SOONER THAN LATER

Survey respondents thus far have also made clear that their preferred time to call a bondelection is in November 2023. They also indicated that any bond should be broken up into multiple propositions rather than a single ballot that includes everything.

The survey closes Friday, June 30, and can be taken at https://bit.ly/3p3NXqT.

WHAT’S NEXT

Committee members will present their recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the regular monthly school board meeting on July 25.

ABOUT THE COMMITTEE

The Bond Planning Committee’s goal is to develop and recommend to the Midland ISD Board of Trustees a bond plan that addresses these facilities issues and prepares the district for future enrollment growth, evolving instructional programs and preventive maintenance.

The committee was formed after MISD’s Long-Range Planning Committee recommended to the board nearly unanimously Feb. 9 that one should be formed. Their conclusion was informed in part by a demographic study showing that MISD’s aging facilities, particularly its high schools, cannot support the rapid and persistent growth the community is facing. The Long-Range Planning Committee began its work in August 2021 and presented initial recommendations to the Board of Trustees in November 2022.

 

Bond Planning Committee convenes for second time

Nearly 100 members learn about preventive maintenance, finance issues

April 5, 2023 — Nearly 100 members of the Midland ISD Bond Planning Committee met for the second time Monday, April 3, to discuss a number of topics as it works to recommend a bond package to the Board of Trustees.

Deferred Maintenance

Among the topics was deferred maintenance. In total, MISD has about $237 million in deferred maintenance and is working toward a preventive maintenance plan recommended by the Facilities and Long-Range Planning committees. MISD has been allocating funds toward this list of items and on Monday shared with Bond PlanningCommittee members its progress on what is being addressed without a bond.

One example has been the timely replacement of HVAC systems at campuses districtwide to ensure comfortable learning environments. During the recent spring break, crews installed a new cooling tower at Goddard Junior High, and more replacements are planned.

Finance

Committee members also heard a presentation about district finances and what major projects recommended by the Long-Range Planning Committee a school bond could fund.

For many years, the state has considered MISD to be a property-rich district. Because of this, the district must pay back its “excess revenue” to the state as part of Chapter 49 recapture (sometimes referred to as Robin Hood).

This school year, it is currently estimated MISD will pay $161 million in recapture — about 35 cents for every dollar MISD receives through the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate from local taxpayers. The Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate is not subject to recapture and can only be used for bond debt repayment.

Recapture constrains what MISD can fund in terms of capital improvements, particularly large projects such as the construction of new schools.

School bonds are the major method to address capital improvements and the construction of new schools, particularly in fast-growing districts such as MISD, which is predicted have 32,146 students enrolled in the 2032-33 school year — a 16% increase above this year’s 27,821 students. MISD has seen a 5% increase in enrollment this year alone.

Committee members learned that through refinancing and early payment of principal, MISD has saved the district and taxpayers more than $55.4 million in future interest payments on current bonds. Estimates were presented on different bond amounts along with the estimated tax rates

MISD is watching several bills this legislative session that would affect property taxes and school finance. However, none would alleviate the financial needs to address the Long-Range Planning Committee’s capital improvement recommendations that include the construction of new Midland and Legacy high schools; the construction of a new elementary school to serve the Lone Star Trails area in northeast Midland; and general campus improvements that include the repurposing of the Midland Freshman and Legacy High campuses into middle schools that serve grades six through eight.

The Bond Planning Committee’s goal is to develop and recommend to the Midland ISD Board of Trustees a bond plan that addresses these facilities issues and prepares the district for future enrollment growth, evolving instructional programs and preventive maintenance.

The committee was formed after MISD’s Long-Range Planning Committee recommended to the board nearly unanimously Feb. 9 that one should be formed. Their conclusion was informed in part by a demographic study showing that MISD’s aging facilities, particularly its high schools, cannot support the rapid and persistent growth the community is facing. The Long-Range Planning Committee began its work in August 2021 and presented initial recommendations to the Board of Trustees in November 2022.

Save the Date

Bond Planning Committee meetings are open to the public. Here are upcoming meetings.

All meetings begin at 6 p.m.

More than 100 attend first Bond Planning Committee meeting

Students, staff, parents, community come together to discuss MISD’s future

March 3, 2023 — The Midland ISD Bond Committee hosted its first meeting Thursday evening with more than 100 committee members in attendance.

Parents, students, staff, community members, civic leaders and more came together at the Midland High School library to begin the process of determining whether MISD should pursue a school bond in the future and, if so, what should be included.

“Thank you to each member of the committee for coming together last night!” Superintendent Stephanie Howard said. “The energy and excitement in the room as we came together to plan for the future of Midland ISD was certainly noticeable and promising. 

“We are so fortunate to have so many dedicated students, parents, staff members, business and community leaders, and last but certainly not least representatives from Midland College, the city of Midland and Midland County come together to engage in this work.”

The Bond Planning Committee was formed after the Long-Range Planning Committeerecommended nearly unanimously Feb. 9 that one should be formed. Their conclusion was informed in part by a demographic study showing that MISD’s aging facilities, particularly its high schools, cannot support the rapid and persistent growth the community is facing. The Long-Range Planning Committee began its work in August 2021 and presented initial recommendations to the Board of Trustees in November 2022.

Bond Planning Committee meetings are open to the public to attend. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., and future meeting dates are as follows:

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