Education
HISD bond focuses on aging facilities
A closer look
Although Miles said the bond would not result in a tax rate increase, many members of the public have expressed concerns over the proposal due to what they called policy and culture changes that have taken place since the Texas Education Agency appointed Miles to take over the district last June. Several locally elected o cials who spoke during the board’s July 16 workshop raised concerns over the bond proposal’s plan to construct “co-locations,” which would entail merging several elementary and middle schools into single campuses. State Sen. Molly Cook, D Houston, said the inclusion of co-locations has been deeply unpopular with her constituents. For months, community members who have been opposed to the changes implemented by Miles, have concluded their comments at board meetings with the phrase “no trust, no bond.” Several community members continued to share that sentiment during the board’s June 27 meeting. Jamie Ford, a former teacher at Carnegie Van- guard High School who resigned earlier this year, said she couldn’t support the bond because of her mistrust for Miles. “[Miles’] approach has sucked all the joy out of teaching and severed the connections teachers make with their students,” Ford said. “I would not trust him to organize a bake sale, much less a $4.4 billion bond.” Community member Amy Maddox voiced similar concerns. “Trust and transparency have tanked with stu- dents, parents, the community and elected leaders,” Maddox said. Former state Rep. Garnet Coleman, who co-chairs the bond advisory committee, said it would be essential for district o cials to work more closely with community members to regain their trust. Alexandra Elizondo, HISD’s chief of communi- cations and public a airs, said a large portion of the community members the district has engaged with were initially skeptical of the bond, but she said many of them reconsidered their position after seeing the state of the district’s aging campuses.
HISD’s most recent bond—approved in 2012— was a $1.9 billion package backed by roughly two-thirds of voters. According to the district’s website, the bond included roughly $1.64 billion to replace and repair 40 schools across the district, including 29 high schools, as well as $252 million for additional projects. While the bulk of the work included in the 2012 bond was focused on high schools, Alishia Jolivette, HISD interim chief operating o cer, said the potential 2024 bond would emphasize elementary and middle school improvements. Jolivette said there are more than $10 billion worth of facilities, technology and security needs across the district, noting the bond would serve as a rst step toward addressing those needs. “The bond is going to help us address some of it,” Jolivette said. “It won’t address all of it.” $1.1 billion would be spent on health and safety improvements at every campus, including updating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; removing lead from drinking water; and enhancing security infrastructure $1.1B would be allocated toward “future-ready” initiatives, including: $445M in technology upgrades $425M in career and technical education improvements $200M to expand the district’s prekindergarten program by 4,000 students
Houston ISD board managers have until Aug. 16 to decide whether to approve placing a $4.4 billion bond referendum on Nov. 5 ballots. Board managers received an overview of the proposed bond, which would largely focus on upgrading and improving more than 270 campuses throughout the district, during the board’s June 27 meeting. The board is planning to vote Aug. 8 on whether to place the proposal on the ballot. HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the bond would provide: • $1.04 billion for safety and health initiatives • $200 million for early childhood education • $445 million for technology upgrades • $425 million for career and technical education • $2.27 billion for campus expansions, renovations and rebuilds
Bond at a glance
$2.2 billion would be spent on campus improvements a ecting 43 schools, including: • 15 full campus rebuilds • 7 partial campus renovations • 4 partial campus renovations with expansions • 1 co-location serving 2 elementary schools and 1 middle school • 3 co-location rebuilds, combining 3 elementary schools and 3 middle schools
Improvements at local schools
Proposed action key
Elementary schools
Full rebuild and expansion
Lead abatement Partial renovation and expansion
Year built
Proposed investment
Proposed action
Safety and security upgrades HVAC improvements
Condit Elrod Herod
2016 $460,000 1964 $6.49M
Middle schools
2011 2011
$1.4M
Horn
$540,000
Year built
Proposed investment
Proposed action
Kolter
2020 $240,000
Longfellow
Fondren
1966 $23.9M 1929 $180.36M 1959 $7.88M
2007 2011
$1.98M
Lanier
Lovett Parker
$850,000
Meyerland
2018 $80,000 1928 $2.96M
Pershing
Poe Red
2007
$6.95M
“Folks do understand that school combination plays out exactly the same way as a school closure. I don’t know a single person
1957
$6.13M
High schools
Roberts Shearn Tinsley
1936 $5.47M
Year built
Proposed investment
Proposed action
1952 2001 2005
$14.78M $3.82M $2.22M
in my district that would be supportive of that.” DISTRICT 15 STATE SEN. MOLLY COOK, D HOUSTON
Bellaire
2020 $140,000
Twain
Lamar
1962 1961
$3.64M $11.42M
West University
1925
$6.06M
Westbury
NOTE: BOND PLANS ARE NOT FINALIZED AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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