News & Media

Proposition A will be on the November ballot, and Crandall ISD Superintendent Dr. AJ Murry will be in your community soon to explain it.

Dr. Murry is in the process of visiting Crandall ISD campuses to share a presentation which explains what Prop A is and why the Board of Trustees has called a vote for it. You can see that presentation here.

There are three upcoming opportunities for the public to attend an Information Meeting on Proposition A: 

• September 30, 6:00 at CISD Board Room 400 W. Lewis Street

• October 1, 6:00 at Noble-Reed Elementary

• October 3, 6:00 at Opal Smith Elementary

The public is encouraged to attend the presentation and participate in the question and answer session. Early voting begins October 21, and election day is November 5.

The Texas state legislature has not increased the basic allotment for public schools since 2019. Federal funding has also decreased. School districts across the state are feeling the financial squeeze, and many districts - including Crandall ISD - have passed deficit budgets for the 2024-2025 school year.

If passed, Crandall ISD would receive nearly $6 million annually in funding, more than half of that coming from the state and the rest coming from local taxes. The Board of Trustees has pledged to use 82% of the new money to go toward staff salaries. The remaining 18% would go toward curriculum and safety and security. 

Dr. Murry’s presentation explains all of this and much more, followed by a question and answer session. Please visit our website https://www.crandall-isd.net/vote to view our FAQs and get more information. 

 

In Crandall ISD, a remarkable new tradition is emerging with the formation of the Pirate PRIDE Cheer Team, where PRIDE stands for Pirates. Respect. Inclusion. Disabilities. Everyone matters in CISD. This team, which celebrates students of all abilities, is breaking barriers and creating a community centered on inclusion and pride.

The journey began in March when Jeri Golden, a dedicated educator, envisioned a cheer team where students with disabilities could shine. Along with fellow sponsor Niki Plumer, they set out to form the Pirate PRIDE Cheer Team, giving these students a platform to cheer for their school and feel celebrated. With only enough funds to purchase uniforms for ten students, the team faced financial hurdles. However, the community's support quickly changed their trajectory.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), one of the largest fundraisers for Special Olympics Texas, awarded the Pirate PRIDE Cheer Team a $1,000 scholarship. This generous donation provided much-needed funding for team shirts and uniforms for new members.

On August 16th, one of the team's cheerleaders had the unique opportunity to attend the Breakfast of Champions hosted by the Dallas Sheriff's Office at the Flight Museum. The event brought together community leaders and law enforcement officers to support Special Olympics Texas athletes. For the young cheerleader, the day was a dream come true. She set out to meet every officer in the room and nearly succeeded, leaving with a heart full of joy and memories she'll cherish forever.

The Pirate PRIDE Cheer Team plans to begin performing at CMS football games soon. They will also proudly showcase their float at the Homecoming parade—a valid symbol of their hard-earned place in the school's athletic tradition.

The team's practices, held every Tuesday at Opal Smith Elementary, are filled with excitement and anticipation. But it's more than just cheer routines. For the students and their families, it's about inclusion and the realization that in Crandall ISD, everyone matters.

The cheer team debuted at the district's recent convocation, where their performance moved many parents to tears. For these families, seeing their children included in such a meaningful way was a deeply emotional and gratifying experience.

Thanks to the generosity of LETR, the Dallas Sheriff's Office, and officers like Officer Pagel of the Richardson PD and Officer Danny Plumer of the Dallas Sheriff's Office, the Pirate PRIDE Cheer Team is thriving. Their presence is more than just a cheer on the sidelines—it's a reminder that inclusion is powerful and every student deserves the chance to shine.

 

Walker Elementary School is excited to kick off year two of the Ron Clark Academy House System. This unique program assigns students to different 'houses' with distinct identities to build a powerful approach to teamwork and school pride and increase their sense of belonging. This healthy competition focuses on enhancing positive relationships and leadership development. Principal Lara Reed states, "The House System is reshaping our school culture."

This year, thanks to the Heartland Education Foundation, Walker Elementary is taking its House System to the next level by adding an app that tracks house points in real-time. The School Leaderboard shows live on the TVs in the hallways and can be pulled up in the classrooms, as well as on the app on staff phones. Points are given to students, which then show their names, and points are added to their houses on the live leaderboard. The energy and excitement are noticeable in the halls and school this year.

The buzz of the innovative House System approach has gained the support of Crandall ISD's Leadership Cabinet. Each member of the Cabinet has decided to show their support to one house by endorsing this innovative culture-building idea. Superintendent Dr. AJ Murry, Chief of Staff Dr. Holly Keown, Chief of Operations Christy Starrett, Chief of Academics Dr. Charlene Goss, Chief Financial Officer Todd Garrison, and Chief of Police Tim Payovich are all rallying for their respective houses.

Walker Elementary stays committed to its motto, "We, Before Me, It's the Walker Way," by creating a community within its school that represents excellence, collaboration, and respect. This approach not only focuses on academic achievements but also on good citizen and teammate values that inspire each student and team 'house' to excel.

Great job, Walker Elementary students and staff—keep up the hard work!

 

The Crandall ISD Board of Trustees has scheduled a School Funding Election for November 5, 2024. If approved, the election would provide additional funding for employee salaries, academic initiatives, and maintaining a safe environment on campuses.

School districts across Texas are facing fiscal challenges because funding from the state has not kept up with record-high inflation, which has driven up costs such as utilities and insurance leaving limited funds to provide salary increases.

Proposition A on the November ballot would raise about $6 million for Crandall ISD schools, and the Board of Trustees has expressed that a top priority for those funds will be increasing teacher and employee pay. If the Proposition does not pass, the district will receive no additional funding.

As required by state law, the Crandall ISD Board of Trustees has reduced the district’s tax rate by 37 cents per $100 property valuation since 2018. Proposition A would add back 12 cents to the rate, meaning that the tax rate would still be 25 cents lower than it was in 2018.

In addition, homeowners who are at least 65 or have a disability and have received a freeze on their property taxes would not see any increase in their school tax payments under Proposition A as long as they have not made substantial improvements to their property.

“Proposition A asks whether voters are willing to put more dollars into Crandall ISD schools in exchange for an increase in the property-tax rate,” said Dr. Anjanette Murry, Crandall ISD Superintendent. “These are dollars that would pay for operating costs, such as staff salaries, classroom instruction, and maintaining a safe environment on our campuses.”

Currently, the beginning pay for a teacher in Crandall ISD is $55,448. Other districts in the area that have previously held School Funding Elections offer higher starting salaries as well as higher salaries along each year of the scale, which makes it challenging for Crandall ISD to retain the best teachers and recruit new teachers for our growing district.

“Quality teachers are essential to learning,” Dr. Murry said. “We have great teachers in Crandall ISD, and we want to make sure that we are able to keep them here so that we can provide the best possible education to children in our community.”

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This summer brought significant improvements to schools across the district, thanks to the Bond 2022 funds, which aimed to modernize and enhance facilities for students and staff. Martin Elementary, Wilson Elementary, and the high school have all seen exciting upgrades that will benefit their communities for years to come.

At Wilson Elementary, all interior walls were freshly painted, giving classrooms and hallways a bright, clean look. Additionally, the parking lot was re-striped, improving traffic flow and safety.

Martin Elementary received a more extensive overhaul. The school now has a new HVAC system, a new roof, and upgraded plumbing. Along with these infrastructure improvements, the interior has been repainted, the exterior cleaned up, and the parking lot re-striped for added safety and organization.

The high school also underwent significant changes this summer. The cafeteria stage was removed, and the floor was flattened to increase seating capacity and create more open space. The library has been relocated to the front of the building, providing better accessibility, while the Crandall-Community Library has been moved to the Freshman Center. In addition, new bathrooms have been added in the area where the former theater arts room was located, offering improved facilities for students.

All of these changes are in preparation for the construction of a new high school wing, which is expected to be completed by December 2024. This new wing will provide space for an additional 810 students, a dedicated dance studio, and a state-of-the-art theater arts space designed in a "black box" theater style. Furthermore, construction is set to begin soon on a new performing arts center, which will be connected to the high school. This center will offer expanded space for all fine arts programs, giving students the room to develop their talents and grow.

These summer renovations mark a significant step forward in the district's efforts to provide modern, functional spaces for learning and creativity. We are excited about the improvements and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on our students, staff, and community.

We appreciate the ongoing support from our community in making these enhancements possible!