Questions
1)  What is a school bond?
2)  Who decided on the specifics of the bond program?
3)  Can't the District just use insurance/FEMA dollars to fund the improvements?
4)  How does this impact our community?
5)  Will the bond increase my taxes if I am 65 or older?
6)  Will passage of the bond referendum affect teacher salaries?
 
Answers
1)  Q What is a school bond?
A
A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It allows the school district to borrow money to be repaid on a given date with interest. This type of long-term financing allows the district to pay for large costs related to facilities and other capital improvements that cannot be funded through the Maintenance and Operations side of the district's budget.
2)  Q Who decided on the specifics of the bond program?
A
A citizen-based Facilities Committee (comprised of more than 60 SFISD community members) was charged with assessing the District's facility needs, determining the best, most cost-effective solutions, pioritizing a list of facilities projects, and providing a report and recommendation to the District.
3)  Q Can't the District just use insurance/FEMA dollars to fund the improvements?
A
No. This bond program will be used to fund construction that will physically improve the existing condition of our facilities. Insurance dollars can only be used to return a facility to its existing condition (prior to hurricane damage). Insurance money cannot be applied towards capital improvements.
4)  Q How does this impact our community?
A
Supporting a bond proposal is a community commitment to the education of our youth in preparing them for success and future endeavors in post secondary education and in the workplace as members of a 21st century global economy.
5)  Q Will the bond increase my taxes if I am 65 or older?
A
No. Taxes are frozen for all citizens age 65 and older who have filed for exemption and taxpayers with disability exemption.
6)  Q Will passage of the bond referendum affect teacher salaries?
A
By law, bond money can only be used for new facility construction, facility renovation, technology equipment and major capital improvements.