The Kingsville Independent School District officials were confident they would receive state funding when they called for a bond election for $40 million that was approved by voters this May.

Their confident prediction became a reality when they were notified of an Instructional Facilities Allotment of $15 million by the Texas Education Agency Thursday. The KISD bond election for $40 million for the construction of a new high school was contingent on obtaining state assistance from TEA through IFA and also the Existing Debt Allotment, EDA, or other state or federal funding.

During the bond election campaign, the funding opportunity information stated that assistance would provide up to 43 percent and interest payments on the bond and only 57 percent of the cost would be paid from the local taxpayers.

Karen Griffith, KISD Chief Administrative officer, said she was ecstatic when she heard the news that the district had received IFA funding.

“I am very excited and we will go forward,” Griffth said Thursday.

“The first phase begins; we are developing a timeline that will be established,” she said.

“We want to be more transparent and want our community to be kept abreast of what KISD is doing,” Griffith said.

Griffith said she would issue bonds as needed to accumulate interest and not be a burden to the taxpayers. KISD will issue $15 million of the $40 million this year and sell $15 million next year and sell another $10 million in 2012.

One reason KISD had the opportunity to obtain IFA funds was the fact that some of the bond elections in large school districts failed and this resulted in less competition.

In seeking more state funding, KISD will apply for the Existing Debt Allotment next year that will not have as stringent requirements as the IFA.

Initially, about $13 million from a previous $25 million school bond had been allocated for the repair and renovation of H.M. King High School. After the school architects analyzed a study of the repair of the facility built almost 50 years, they recommended the replacement of the building as the most cost effective solution.

KISD began a campaign focusing on the need for a new high school that began in January. Emilio Castro, KISD superintendent and other school officials conducted many town talks to various groups and organizations. Ultimately, the $40 million school bond passed with 970 voters for and 612 against on May 8.

Currently, a fine arts center is in the final development stages and construction is expected to begin at H.M. King High in October.

Also, KISD is completing construction on the new A.D. Harvey Elementary School with a cost of about $9.5 million. The present amount of money left from the previous bond election is about $8.5 million.