Building Program Committee (BPC) Last Updated: March 7, 2008
BPC Background
In the fall of 2003, a diverse group of community members was brought together to create a plan to prepare for projected population growth in Melissa and the resulting educational facility needs. The committee became known as the Building Program Committee (BPC). As a result of the committee’s work and planning, the citizens of Melissa authorized an $80 million bond referendum on February 7, 2004. The BPC also developed an enrollment and property valuation based trigger system to ensure that educational facilities are not constructed until warranted by actual student population and supporting property valuation. As of January 2008, a total of $23.3 million dollars in bonds have been sold to provide for the educational needs of the students in Melissa ISD. Those dollars were then utilized to:
- Add the Band Hall at the Current Secondary Campus;
- Purchase the Initial 60 Acres for Melissa High School;
- Partially Renovate Melissa Ridge Intermediate;
- Construct Harry McKillop Elementary;
- Construct Cardinal Stadium; and
- Upgrade Educational Technology and Access.
As a result, $56.7 million dollars is still available from the original $80 million bond referendum. In an effort to maintain the highest degree of integrity, transparency, and efficiency in the maintenance of District facilities and the administration of public funds, the BPC was reconvened in the Fall of 2007 and has been commonly referred to as BPC2. Recent BPC2 efforts have focused on gauging the development of the District over the last few years as well as clearly defining immediate and near-future priorities based upon refined student enrollment projections, property valuation projections, and an independent facilities audit. Three months of research and planning began in October of 2007 and culminated in December of 2007 with a presentation of recommendations to the Melissa ISD Board of Trustees.
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Student Enrollment
Did you know that student enrollment in Melissa ISD doubled between the years of 2003 and 2007? Enrollment projections indicate that there is a high likelihood that the student population will double again in the next five to six years. That means that Melissa ISD is projected to be a 3A high school district with approximately 2,600 students by the year 2013. The Building Program Committee continues to plan for the future while remaining sensitive to the ebbs and flows of the current housing market and community growth over time.
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Facility Audit
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Melissa ISD's most recent, independent, facility audit was completed by Huckabee Incorporated in October 2007. Representatives from Huckabee Incorporated presented the independent findings to the Building Program Committee at a public meeting on October 18, 2007.
Property Valuation
The 2007 certified net taxable valuation for properties in Melissa ISD was $393,668,004. Property valuations are important to consider when planning for the future because they are a part of the basis from which schools in Texas are funded for operation. BPC2 requested Southwest Securities Group to conservatively project property valuations for the near future so that BPC2 members could make informed recommendations about how and where to most efficiently and effectively direct facility funding in the coming months and years.
BPC Recommendations
On Monday, December 17, 2007, the community based Building Program Committee made the following recommendations to the Melissa ISD Board of Trustees:
- Renovate Melissa Ridge Campus to Intermediate School Configuration;
- Upgrade Education Technology and Libraries;
- Purchase Final 20 Acres of High School Site;
- Expand Current Secondary Campus to 1200 Student Capacity;
- Construct Home Office at Town Center; New 10,000 s.f. facility at approximate cost of $1.6 million in today’s dollars instead of minimally renovating 4,000 s.f. at current 70 year old Home Office at a cost of $1.3 million.
- Expand Cardinal Stadium to 3A Capacity;
- Construct a Warehouse for Maintenance Equipment;
- Replace Grass Turf with Field Turf at Cardinal Stadium; Increases field use from 35 times per year to unlimited usage;Reduces annual maintenance cost of field from $45k to $5k; Provides District with another opportunity to partner with the City to form an “open arms” policy with community youth sports groups.
- Seek Partnerships with the City of Melissa; and
- Reconvene Building Program Committee in 2010.
| 2003 BPC Members | s | 2007 BPC Members |
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| Long Term School & Grade Configuration Graphic |
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