DALLAS — Voters in Northwest and Rockwall school district rejected bond proposals Tuesday, dashing plans to increase teacher pay in Rockwall.
The Rockwall Independent School District asked voters to approve an $850 million bond, which would have provided raises for Rockwall ISD teachers and provided funding for infrastructure improvements, including new schools and facilities, higher teacher pay and renovations to the district's football stadium.
The new voter-approved tax rate would have increased resident's property tax rates by 25%, opponents said. Voters rejected all three propositions and the new voter-approved tax rate that would have paid for the improvements.
Sources tell WFAA that multiple teachers plan to call in sick Wednesday, Nov. 6 to protest teacher raises failing to pass. WFAA has reached out to Rockwall ISD for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.
In the Northwest Independent School District, voters were asked to approve a new tax rate that would have increased the maintenance and operations tax rate by 3 cents, according to the district. The $16 million in increased revenue would have been used to maintain class sizes and student programs amid a budget shortfall, the district said.
The district will begin to work with department and school leaders to find budget solutions, the district said in a statement. The district will also analyze potential changes to class sizes beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the district said.
“While we’re disappointed in the result, we understand that increases in any tax rate are challenging for taxpayers,” Northwest ISD Superintendent Mark Foust said in a statement. “Northwest ISD will continue to engage our lawmakers in the hopes that they will stop withholding funding that benefits students and teachers. School districts are facing unprecedented choices that have a direct impact on the classroom, and it’s time for our state leaders to step up and do what’s right for the 5.5 million children in Texas public schools.”
Meanwhile, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD voters approved a new voter-approved tax rate, generating $6 million in additional revenue for the district. About 58% of voters approved Proposition A, according to a press release from the district.
The extra money will be used for operations, instruction, staff, transportation and maintenance, the release states.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to our community for your ongoing support of our district,” Superintendent Brad Schnautz said in a release. “This community is special. I’m incredibly honored to serve alongside our dedicated employees, proud of our talented students, and grateful to the fellow parents here, where we know all of our kids are receiving an amazing education. We look forward to continuing to provide a path of success for every student."