Joshua ISD Watchdogs

02/02/2024

Superintendent Corey Hickerson is hosting a Facebook Live at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, where he will answer your questions about the district.

Please submit your questions for the livestream by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/48OjH57. The deadline to submit is February 9.

We look forward to hearing from the Joshua ISD community!

02/01/2024

Important dates coming up so make sure you add to your calendar. There are two School Board Trustee Places up for election this year. Place 3 and 4. Deadline for filing for a place on the General Election Ballot is Feb 16, 2024 at 5:00pm. Applications can be picked up at the Joshua ISD Administration Building. If you are considering on running make sure that you have your applications turned in on time.

01/30/2024

In case you missed it Joshua ISD School Board had their Team of Eight Training once again in closed session unlike Godley ISD which has school board members in favor of transparency.

Also included on the agenda was a notice of a proposed contract for legal services which is "necessary for recovering the unpaid loss damages (“damages”) sustained by Joshua I.S.D. during a hail/wind event on or around June 12, 2023."

01/29/2024

Elevate Joshua S**C filed their semi-annual financial report. As you can see below their largest donor is WRA Architects. The same firm Joshua ISD hired for the Nov 2023 bond. If you would like to see the rest of the donors for the Pro-Bond S**C click the link below for TEC and search for Elevate Joshua.

https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/cf/SimpleSearch.php

12/18/2023

In case you missed it Joshua ISD Future Planning Committee had a meeting on Dec 6, 2023. Here is a look at their very detailed meeting minutes. Hopefully next time they will announce their meeting ahead of time for any community members that would like to attend.

11/17/2023

Joshua ISD parent joins Greg Cooper on The Breakdown to discuss an incident involving Joshua ISD Police Department. It can be difficult for some to watch but it is important to spread awareness on these issues to prevent any future incidents.

11/08/2023

Election Results

The unofficial results from the November 7, 2023, Joshua ISD Bond Proposition have been recorded.

Proposition A failed with a vote of 1,654 (45.55%) to 1,977 (54.44%). 3,631 votes were cast.

The proposal would have addressed long-term growth, career and technical education, aging facilities, safety and security and future land purchases.

The Johnson County Elections Office will post official results here: https://bit.ly/3MzYPpf.

11/07/2023

I guess when you are backed by a large architectural firm that was hired by the district, you can afford to be petty. Using signs to cover up others is happening at most polling locations.

Don't be petty! Just get out and vote! Today is the last day.

Find your voting precinct by checking your voter registration here: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do

11/07/2023

Today is your last chance to vote!

Polls close at 7pm tonight. There are 14 amendments to be voted on and the JISD School Bond.

10/27/2023

𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁

It's that time of the year again when cities, counties, and school districts are putting some hefty bond proposals on the November ballot. Including Joshua ISD Bond asking for $107 million. And, yes, you guessed it, this could lead to an even heavier financial "bo***ge" for all of us, with an existing $129 million in outstanding debt for Joshua ISD and a total of $186 billion in debt for the state.

💰 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Each bond may seem like a lifeline for development, but it comes with a price tag. All bonds must be repaid with interest, and guess what? They translate into property tax increases. It's essential to be aware of what these bonds mean for your wallet.

📜 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Thanks to a law passed in 2019, school bond propositions now explicitly state "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE." School districts also have to provide a voter information document that spells out the full financial picture, showcasing the cost of proposed bonds and current debt. Transparency is key!

🏛️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻: Texas ranks third in the United States for local debt per capita. Most of this tax-supported debt is shouldered by school districts. Our future generations deserve quality education, but let's make sure it's sustainable.

📈 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸: Beyond bonds, over two dozen local governments are pushing for tax hikes that surpass the limits set by state law. It's time to understand how these fiscal decisions could impact our day-to-day lives.

📅 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿: Early voting kicks off on October 23, and Election Day is on November 7. This is your chance to have a say in shaping our financial future.

Before you head to the polls, take a moment to educate yourself on the issues at hand. In addition to the Joshua ISD bond, there are also 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution on the ballot. Make your vote count, and let's ensure our financial well-being aligns with our values.

Texas has the third-highest local debt per capita among the nation’s 10 most populous states.

10/27/2023

10/25/2023

If you think that voting for this bond will stop portables from going up at your kids school, you might be surprised.

Latest news coming out of the JISD Support & News group is that North Joshua and Elder are already getting ready for portables.

So why is only a small portion of our community privy to this information, while others go with questions unanswered? Well if you ask me, it is pretty hard to use fear of portables to push for a bond if word gets out that the portables are happening either way.

10/17/2023

🚨 Important Community Update: Elevate Joshua S**C and WRA Architect 🚨

Dear Joshua Community,

We believe it's our responsibility to share crucial information about Elevate Joshua, a Special Purpose Action Committee (S**C) that has a significant influence on our local bond initiatives. The biggest backer behind Elevate Joshua is WRA Architect, the firm hired by Joshua ISD to help with the bond. After looking up Elevate Joshua’s campaign finance report we were able to confirm the total amount of in-kind (non-monetary) donations from WRA Architect so far is $2,710.84

We need to address a concern that has been voiced by many community members who are struggling with increased property taxes and the challenges of keeping our small-town feel intact. It's disheartening to see large businesses swooping in with no personal investment in our community, aiming to profit off our special town.

WRA Architect's primary interest in supporting this bond may be financial gain, which can sometimes conflict with the best interests of our community. We understand the frustrations many of you feel, and we share those concerns.

As community members, it's our duty to question the motives behind such involvement. This S**C may not seem like it is just a small group of local volunteers who care about our town.

10/17/2023

🗳️ Important Announcement: Joshua ISD School Bond on the Ballot! 🗳️

Dear Joshua ISD Community,

We want to make sure you're informed about an important upcoming event. In the upcoming election, Joshua ISD has a school bond on the ballot. This bond will increase your tax rate by $0.1703 per $100 valuation.

Your vote matters! We encourage you to research the bond proposal, attend any informational sessions, ask questions and most importantly, cast your vote on election day.

Here is the link to bond website created by the school district:

Joshua ISDis having abond electionOn November 7, 2023, the Joshua ISD community will vote on the district’s $107,140,000 bond package. Required Postings Bond 2023 A 48-member Future Planning Committee met multiple times to review and discuss potential bond projects. The Committee consisted of pare...

10/17/2023

In case you missed the notice, the Joshua ISD School Board gathered for their meeting this evening. The agenda was packed with items, including the latest Superintendent's Reports, an informative Campus Presentation for Caddo Grove Elementary School, and an Executive Session.

Meeting Begins Timestamp: 4:28
Executive Session Timestamps: Starts 50:10 the livestream cuts out before the board returns from Executive Session

Stay in the know about the important discussions in our district!

And watch the reply here:

Joshua ISD does not control any advertisements shown before or during this livestream or any suggested videos.Please note: audio issues occur throughout this...

10/17/2023

Welcome to Joshua ISD WatchDog

About Us:
Joshua ISD WatchDog is your dedicated source for staying informed about the latest happenings and developments in the Joshua ISD community.

Our Mission:
At Joshua ISD WatchDog, we're committed to keeping you in the loop about important events, news, and issues affecting our local school district. Our goal is to promote transparency, open discussion, and a sense of community among all stakeholders.

What to Expect:
Here, you'll find a mix of factual updates as well as community opinions and concerns. Our content covers a wide range of topics, from school policies and board meetings to state policies affecting public education and community events.

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We encourage open and respectful discussions in the comments section. Your insights, questions, and opinions are valuable and contribute to the collective understanding of our community's needs and aspirations.

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Joshua ISD WatchDog is run by a team of passionate community members who care deeply about the well-being and success of our students. We're not affiliated with the school district itself, ensuring an independent perspective.

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