The Celina ISD Board of Trustees has called a Special Election for a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) on November 5th. The measure will appear as Proposition A on the ballot. To maximize local tax revenue, CISD is proposing a 5.11-cent decrease to the Interest and Sinking (I&S) portion of the school district’s tax rate, and a 5.11-cent increase in the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) portion of the tax rate. If approved, the VATRE would result in an estimated $1.85 million in additional maintenance and operations funding each year, while keeping the overall school tax rate lower than last year’s rate. 

Celina ISD's most significant areas of need within our maintenance and operations budget include ensuring competitive teacher and staff salaries, the safety and security our children, and robust academic programming.

Impact to Salaries

The nation is experiencing a severe teacher shortage, and Celina ISD’s starting teacher salary is lower than the starting salary offered by several other school districts in our area. The additional revenue raised by a VATRE will allow CISD to increase compensation for all CISD staff members, including teachers, paraprofessionals (classroom aides, administrative assistants) and auxiliary personnel (maintenance workers, food services, staff, bus drivers, etc.). With additional revenue generated by the VATRE, the district can increase salaries to be more competitive in a very challenging employment market that is affecting hiring for all positions. 

Impact to Safety & Security

Additional funding will allow the district to upgrade its safety and security measures with improvements that include better door-access controls, more armed security personnel, and enhanced technology, such as state-of-the-art surveillance systems. 

Impact to Academic Programs

The district also plans to use the additional funding to expand innovative academic programs districtwide, providing more choices and opportunities for our students as they prepare for life after graduation. We plan to spend these additional dollars on programs that support college and career readiness, expanded fine arts and extracurricular opportunities, and unique enriched learning experiences.