Plano ISD officials plan to begin renovations in May at Aldridge Elementary School that include roof, heating, and air conditioning replacements.
According to a state filing, the project bears an estimated construction cost of just over $4.6 million. The work involves replacing fixtures, finishes, and restroom partitions, as well as HVAC controls and the installation of new fencing. It has an anticipated delivery date of August 1.
The renovations at Aldridge are part of Proposition B, which provides funding for safety and security equipment, the district’s transportation department, technology upgrades, career and technology programs, maintenance, and fine arts, The Dallas Express previously reported. The scope of the $1.3 billion bond package voters approved in November 2022 includes Proposition C, specifically earmarking funds for instructional technology.
At the same time, voters also approved a tax-rate election funding for staff and programs at Plano ISD. Under Texas law, school districts cannot use bond revenue for expenditures such as teacher salaries and administrative pay. As such, these funds must be spent on new construction, renovations, land acquisition, and equipment.
With an annual budget of about $754 million, student enrollment at Plano ISD is around 48,000. In addition to Plano, the district serves students from Dallas, Richardson, Allen, Carrollton, Murphy, Garland, Parker, Lucas, and Wylie. It has four early childhood centers, 44 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and nine high schools.
Plano ISD is one of the more sought-after school districts in North Texas due to its academic robustness, such as its dual enrollment partnership with Collin College, even if it is projecting a student enrollment dip due to high housing costs and demographic shifts, as reported in The Dallas Express.
During the 2021-2022 school year, 62% of Plano ISD students scored at grade level on STAAR exams, according to the latest Texas Education Agency report. This was far better than Dallas ISD, which saw only 41% of its students score at grade level. Similarly, Plano ISD managed to graduate 95.1% of its seniors within four years that same school year whereas only 81.1% did so at Dallas ISD.
