N-S receives construction grant

The Nixon-Smiley Consolidated School District has been notified by Texas Education Agency that it qualified for $5.3 million in “Qualified School Construction Bonds” (QSCB).
This allows the District to issue that portion of the bonds to investors who will receive a tax credit rather than market interest rates.
The district intends to apply again in January, which will mean that approximately $10.6 million of the debt may be interest free.
Since these funds were part of the stimulus project, the District has to spend 10 percent% of the money within a short period of time in order to qualify.
The district is also eligible for Existing Debt Allotment (EDA) funds, which will pay approximately 50% of the cost of the District’s final cost.
The initial phase of the construction project at the high school campus has begun. It includes two main components - creating a science lab from an existing classroom and repairing decayed portions of the existing high school gym.
The new science lab is required in order to meet the State’s more rigorous graduation plans that include four years of science. Currently, teachers do not have the ability to provide the appropriate lab portion in all classes. The lab includes a teacher prep room and fully equipped student work stations.
Construction on the “old” gym is much more visible to visitors as work crews have been busy demolishing the dressing rooms at both the north and south end. Once the walls were removed, it became easily apparent that this work was a necessity due to the deterioration of the framework.
Both ends will be rebuilt approximately as they were with one major change that will affect the community. Due to a need for more space in the ladies’ restroom to meet ADA requirements, the men’s and ladies’ rooms will be reversed.
By mid-January, the gym work should be completed. While the timing of the work has been challenging, this project allowed us to spend enough money to apply for the QSCB mentioned above. Thank you to all of our fans who have been patient as concession stand and restrooms have been temporarily relocated for volleyball and the start of basketball season.
The Bond Oversight Committee is meeting on Wednesday, September 30th to continue input on the planned new Nixon campus library, gym, and renovations to the Smiley campus. The committee will also review expenses and future plans for the project.