Whether it's family friendly, spooky, or for adults, Temple Chamber Members have the perfect event for you and your family this fall!

To add your event to this post, please email kaylee@templechamber.com

Dear Citizens of Temple ISD,

On August 16, 2021, the Temple ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call a $184.9 million bond election for November 2, 2021. This was in alignment with the final recommendation presented by the Temple Citizen Advisory Committee, a diverse citizens group created to study and prioritize the needs of the district. The 2021 bond is the last phase of a ten-year strategic master facilities plan that began with the 2011 TISD bond.  With voter support, this bond would complete all projects promised to the community and proactively start on the new 2021 facilities master plan.

Why should you vote FOR this bond?

Good schools make good communities
This bond proposal will be used to continue improving education in Temple ISD that will produce an educated workforce, which in turn attracts new businesses, good paying jobs and a growing tax base. The return on investments made thus far in Temple ISD have resulted in one of the best school districts in the state of Texas; with the Temple Independent School District Board of Trustees being recognized as 2020 Region 12 School Board of the Year by Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and a Top Five State Finalist.

Temple is growing
Temple ISD expects to add an additional 1,250 students over the next five years. This bond will add a new elementary campus in the rapidly growing southeast portion of the district and add fourteen additional classrooms across four campuses to accommodate growth. (Temple High School 4, Bonham 4, Scott 4, Kennedy Powell 2) The elimination of 20 remaining portables ensures that every student is in a proper brick and mortar physical school building. This bond further provides equitable facilities for all programs regardless of campus.

Temple ISD is committed to honest and transparent communication
Temple ISD delivers on its promises when it comes to bonds. The last two were delivered on time and on budget. They have also welcomed community members onto district campuses and allowed for facility usage of such facilities. One such facility is Wildcat Stadium. The track and turf at Wildcat Stadium are at the end of their useful life. This bond will allow for new track and turf so students and the community can continue to safely utilize these facilities. School playgrounds are also used by community members and their families after hours and on weekends. This bond will replace seven elementary playgrounds.

Temple ISD needs your help
While the district does a good job of maintaining its facilities, most facilities within Temple ISD are over 30 years old, and this bond proposal will allow for necessary repairs and upgrades to include roofing, HVAC, plumbing, kitchen, and electrical systems to keep the schools in good condition as they age. If we are to prepare our students for a global and high-tech workplace, we must have the appropriate school facilities and tools to provide them with a 21st Century education.

The state of Texas does not currently help pay for the construction of new school facilities. Texas law permits Temple ISD to determine its tax rate for debt service to pay for educational facilities. The proposed $184.9 million TISD bond is estimated to raise the tax rate by a total of 12.5 cents which would equate to $10/month or $125/year per $100,000 evaluation. Temple ISD's tax rate has dropped more than 16.5 cents in the last three years due to the district’s fiscal responsibility.  Additionally, existing state law freezes property taxes paid by homeowners 65 years of age or older. Seniors who file their exemption would not have to pay any additional taxes associated with this bond.
 
The Central Texas community is frequently recognized as one of the fastest growing and stable economies in the United States. The Chamber applauds TISD in the development of programs that address the dreams and aspirations of all students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Students graduating from TISD are ready to hit the ground running to satisfy a growing need for skilled labor in our community and, most importantly, establish lifelong careers that provide excellent pay and ongoing support of the robust Central Texas economy. The Temple Chamber of Commerce is proud to be in a community that strongly supports the next generation of leaders and stands firmly in support of the Temple Independent School District 2021 Bond.

TISD will be hosting neighborhood informational presentations throughout the month of October. Visit the TISD website at www.tisd.org/bond2021/ for dates and locations. Additionally, there will be a bond rally and fall festival 10/23, 11 am – 4 pm at the Children’s Museum hosted by Vote Yes for Our Kids, PAC.

​Vote yes for our kids and vote early Temple! You can pick up your Vote Yes Yard signs at the Temple Chamber of Commerce.

Meet Temple and the Temple Chamber of Commerce are proud to partner to celebrate local manufacturers throughout the month of October. The celebration began with a Job Fair on National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day), October 1, 2021, at Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. The celebration will continue with spotlights of partnering manufacturers on Meet Temple and Temple Chamber of Commerce social media.
 
Since its beginning in 2012, MFG Day highlights modern manufacturing careers, dispels myths of the public image of manufacturing, and is an opportunity to energize a future pipeline of skilled workers.
 
Temple is home to 130 manufacturing establishments including the world’s leading producers of everything from engineered surfaces (Wilsonart) to LIQUID NAILS® brand construction adhesives (PPG) to Hefty® Waste Bags (Reynolds Consumer Products). These companies support nearly 6,600 jobs locally and drive the growing manufacturing industry, with industry employment up 28% between 2010 and 2020.
 
“We will continue to work towards not only bringing in new manufacturers but also supporting and recognizing those manufacturers who call Temple home,” said Amanda Carlson, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Temple Economic Development Corporation. “Our most recent efforts are through Meet Temple, a talent attraction and retention initiative that helps increase the funnel of people considering a career in Temple.”
 
The Temple workforce is supported by technically skilled veterans from nearby Fort Hood, robust Career and Technical Education Manufacturing Pathways at area high schools, and graduates from STEM-focused training or degree programs from eight regional higher education institutions.
 
“With a booming manufacturing industry, there is increased demand for a skilled workforce,” noted Whitney Theriot, Vice President of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. “We do have existing pipelines in place to grow talent, to tap into transitioning soldiers, and MFG Day is a way we can help connect the dots to career opportunities locally.”
 
Meet Temple and the Temple Chamber of Commerce hope the concentrated effort to create awareness about the local manufacturing industry through MFG Day will inspire a new generation of manufacturers in Temple.
 
Partnering manufacturers for the 2021 MFG Day initiative include MooreCo, Inc., Palladio Industries, Inc., Reynolds Consumer Products, Sunbelt Transformer, Temple Machine Shop, and Wilsonart.