I am voting YES for the Lovejoy ISD bond package and I'll explain why. Please watch the short video on the recent release of the 2023 Texas School District performance ratings at the end of my statement. It couldn't have come out a better time.
Although Lovejoy ISD is not mentioned in the video because it's such a small district, we received an A rating rating again (here's the link to look it up), just like we have every year for as long as I can remember. Lovejoy ISD residents are voting on an expensive $276 Million school bond package right now and there is a lot of chatter if it's too big.
We have lived in Lucas for 26 years. What I've learned is any topic involving taxes or politics is bitterly fought and hotly contested out here. With any position I take on any issue, 50% of the residents will agree and 50% will disagree. As the #1 Realtor out here for all those years, I realize it's risky because I might be losing a potential client. At the same time, there comes a point where I feel obligated to speak up, and I'm using one of my bullets here.
I have watched Lovejoy ISD attacked year after year after year and often by the same people who fought against Lovejoy splitting off from Allen ISD 23 years ago. The naysayers said we didn't have the tax base, the taxes would bankrupt us, and we'd always be inferior to Allen ISD anyway. And how did that turn out?
Buyers relocating to the Dallas area with children often start their searches for a new home by searching the Texas Education Agency. There, they can see the performance ratings for every school district in Texas, that is, until last year. In 2023, 100 school districts sued to prevent the ranking from being released. You don't have to wonder why.
Lovejoy ISD always seems to run one, two, or three, for public school district ratings in the entire state of Texas along with Highland Park and Carroll. The first time we nudged out Highland Park and Carroll for #1 in Texas, I really had a hard time believing it. HP has been the gold standard for education for as long as I could remember. I wondered with all their money, how could any other small district compete with them, and now we're always right there with them.
We sell homes throughout Fairview, Lucas, and Parker located in all of the school districts. While I've heard countless times, "Don't show me anything that's not in Lovejoy ISD" I've never heard a single buyer say, "Just show me homes in McKinney ISD, Wylie ISD, Plano ISD, Princeton ISD, or Allen ISD." Why do you think that is?
Some of the people fighting this bond passage are the same ones I remember fighting tooth and nail when Lovejoy voted on breaking away from Allen ISD 22 years ago. They did their best to convince people they'd always regret the separation. It would bankrupt us, we don't have the tax base, it will always be inferior to Allen ISD, etc. Just like this bond package vote, it was vitriolic. That's when I learned how passionate people are out here and I'd better watch what I say.
If you live in Lovejoy, your property value has skyrocketed and much of that is simply because your home is in Lovejoy ISD. I had a frank discussion with a representative of the Collin County Tax Appraisal board several years ago. I asked her point blank if they assign a higher value to Lovejoy homes vs McKinney ISD. She said "absolutely", and I can tell you first hand, we have too make that adjustment too on a comparable marketing analysis.
Normally, I wouldn't weigh in on a contentious topic like this, but deep down, I know if the bond package doesn't pass, I'll feel like I hadn't at least done my part and shared my opinion. FYI, I'm not speaking for our team members, this is from me only.
I trust the district is doing the right thing in their budgeting and have given it careful consideration. I'm perfectly willing to pay for the increase. I have always felt Katie Kordel, our superintendent, and the Lovejoy board members have done a great job under difficult circumstances and I thank them for their work.
For those of you who believe the bond package should be denied, I respect your right to disagree, however I am not going to get into a discussion or debate.
Early Voting has already started: April 22nd - April 29th, 2025.
Election Day: May 3rd, 2025.
