FAQ

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required to renovate existing buildings or build a new school. Essentially, it’s permission to take out a loan to build, renovate and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.

Yes. Recent research by the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that a school’s physical environment can play a major role in academic performance. Leaky roofs and problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can trigger a host of health problems – including asthma and allergies – that increase absenteeism and reduce academic performance. Research links key environmental factors to health outcomes and students’ ability to perform.

Working with the Board of Trustees, teachers, and administrators from across the district, the facilities planning committee developed a list of items to consider for inclusion in a bond package. The District has been evaluating current facilities and equipment, ongoing enrollment, growth, and other district priorities with the Board of Trustees.

When recommending a bond program, the Facility Planning Committee focused on addressing the immediate priorities of the district, including exceeded capacity at the elementary school level. We are actively planning for future growth, and while this bond will address today's priorities, the District will continue to evaluate student enrollment, facility conditions, new programs, and discuss future planning options as the student population continues to grow.

The reason our current bond is focused on addressing projects at the elementary level is that it’s the building with the highest capacity right now. Although a new elementary school was opened in 2021, that campus has already exceeded it's capacity due to rapid growth in the community. Because of the increasing student enrollment, the Facility Planning Committee decided to recommend a new intermediate school to ensure all students have enough space and resources at BRISD. Currently, out of our 1,050 students, about 150 are transfer students, with half of those being children of district employees. We continue to monitor each grade level closely and do not approve transfers for grade levels that are over capacity. Blue Ridge ISD does not have the bond capacity right now to fund a new high school campus, but the Facility Planning Committee will continue to meet for future planning discussions as the growth in our community continues. Blue Ridge ISD will also be hosting an in-person Bond Presentation on Wednesday, April 9th, at 6:00 pm at the BRES Cafeteria. Please join us to learn more about the bond details and future plans.