The bond package would likely fund construction of at least one new elementary school as well as improvements to other campuses throughout the district. The focus of the bond will be on providing more capacity for the district, which is experiencing crowding issues at many of its campuses, officials have said.
“I just want to bring some concerns I have … it’s a concern initially that the amount of all the proposals was $110 [million]-$120 million, and at the last meeting it was $94 [million]-$114 million,” said former SMCISD trustee John Crowley, who also serves on a committee charged with forming a bond proposal. “Although these proposals at this time would probably not increase the tax rate, it will increase the amount of taxes paid because it would lengthen the debt—the amount of time we’re paying debt.”
Other items
Early resignation incentive
The board voted to allot $120,000 to an early resignation incentive that will provide district employees planning to leave the district an incentive to give SMCISD advance notice of their plans. Last year many of the employees who left the district did so in the summer, which created challenges for the human resources department to fill open positions.
“This year, 75 percent of our vacancies [became open] in May and beyond, so we’re just trying to have information [about which positions will need to be filled] earlier for planning purposes,” said Willie Watson, assistant superintendent of human resources.
Bus driver pay
Since last May, SMCISD has lost 35 bus drivers and has hired 18. The board approved a pay increase from $14 per hour to $16 per hour for current drivers and those the district is looking to hire. Additionally, new drivers will receive a $500 bonus after 90 days of employment with the district.
The hourly pay increase will cost the district $95,000, and the hiring bonus will cost $5,000.
The district is also aiming to retain more of its drivers. The district will pay drivers a $100 monthly bonus for each month the employee has perfect attendance, and will pay a $250 retention incentive in February and May to drivers who stay with the district. The attendance and retention incentives will cost the district $50,000 per year.
In all, the board approved $150,000 in retention and recruitment incentives for bus drivers.
The recruitment and retention proposal was approved 5-2. Trustees John McGlothlin and Kathy Hansen voted against the measure, saying they were in favor of increasing compensation for drivers but the pay increase and incentives together accounted for too much money in a fiscal year when the district is operating under a $3.9 million deficit budget.
The proposal also included $10,000 that would place hiring advertisements on district school buses, but trustees opted to wait until they could see the ads to approve that expenditure.
Watson said the opening of San Marcos’ Amazon Fulfillment Center, which employs more than 3,000 full-time workers, has drawn some of the district’s bus drivers away from SMCISD.
To view a job posting for the district's school bus drivers, click here.
