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Voters passed one of the three propositions on that year’s ballot. “That caused us to really pause and re-evaluate what it is that we needed to do,” Gearing said. Capital improvements The May bond package has three propositions. Proposition A includes $698.33 million in funding for facilities, school buses and vehicles. It includes two new schools—Elemen- tary School No. 31 for $71.4 million and Elementary School No. 32 for $79.9 million—to be constructed in LISD’s growing northern section. Money could also go to repurposing facilities to the tune of $37 million-$50 million, transforming elementary schools projected to be under capacity into early childhood centers, a professional learning center or for relocating New Hope High School. Modernization projects, meanwhile, would involve replacing carpet; oor- ing; ceilings; lights; heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; and furniture at several campuses.
Trish Bode, Place 1 trustee and board president, said many of these items stem from past failed bond proposals and were brought back after receiving community input. She added modern- ization projects are important for safety and security at schools in addition to saving money spent on maintenance. “There was a revisit of, ‘Let’s make sure when we go to the community that we’re looking at things we need, that we’re being responsible with tax dollars,’ and this is that result,” she said. “I would say there’s more of a need because these items are aging, and we’ve got some newer things on here that weren’t there last time.” In Proposition B, LISD would secure $50.82 million for technology equipment and infrastructure. Projects include refreshing and upgrading the district’s network, providing second-grade students with Chromebooks, and replacing LISD’s network server. When the community approved one of the three 2021 propositions, it authorized LISD to spend $33.3 million on the replacement of technology and
interactive panels in each classroom. However, the funding to install those panels would have been paid for by a failed proposition. “In this bond we’ve actually taken all of the technology pieces—the end-user devices, including those interactive panels, and all the infrastructure that’s required to install them—and put all of that into Proposition B,” Gearing said. Proposition C would renovate the Don Tew and South performing arts centers. According to district admin- istration, upgrades to the facilities’ heating and air conditioning systems as well as other remodeling projects are more than 20 years due. Bonds allow school districts to borrow money to be used to construct new buildings, acquire land, invest in technology, buy vehicles and make other large purchases. If approved, school districts then sell bonds to investors, who are later repaid the initial cost plus interest. According to LISD ocials, the tax rate for residents will not increase based on the results of the election as the
Leander ISD’s upcoming bond proposal would authorize the funding for 62 projects throughout the district. WHAT’S IN THE BOND
PROPOSITION A
Total: $698.33M 52 school facility, transportation and infrastructure projects
$328.41M: modernization/ repurposing projects $193.53M: new facilities $66.66M: transportation- related projects $49.13M: design projects for construction/remodeling $43.68M: facility renovations/turf installations $10.66M: security/ cybersecurity measures $6.27M: music instrument replacement
ADDRESSING CAPACITY PROJECTIONS
PROPOSITION B
Total: $50.82M 8 projects related to technology equipment
90%-99% Projected elementary school utilization, October 2032-33 With student populations in the northern portion of the district set to increase and populations in the south shrinking, Proposition A would authorize funding to repurpose several underutilized elementary schools based on current attendance zones.
183A TOLL
$18M: interactive panel installation
11
4
1431
$2.2M: interactive panel/ AV for non classrooms $7.86M: student/ sta device refresh $7M: second broadband network node $13.64M: internet network refresh and upgrades
5
10
3
110%-119% >120%
<80% 80%-89%
7
100%-109%
2
6
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CONSIDERED FOR REPURPOSING 1 Bush
4 Giddens 5 Mason 6 Naumann
7 Reed 8 River Ridge 9 Steiner Ranch
10 Westside 11 Winkley
2 Cypress 3 Faubion
$1.2M: server and storage replacement $800K: 2nd-grade Chromebooks $121K: CTE Mobile Maker labs
620
9
2222
SERVING A NEW NEED The district identied eight centrally located elementary schools and three southern schools for potential repurposing. These campuses could become early childhood learning centers, a professional learning center or a new high school location if the May bond passes.
1
8
PROPOSITION C
N
2 performing arts centers renovations
$6.84M: Don Tew Performing Arts Center modernization $6.84M: South Performing Arts Center modernization Total: $13.67M
Fall 2023: Zoning process for Elementary School No. 30 will occur to be eective fall 2024; the zoning process for modied utilization of identied elementary campuses could occur to be eective in fall 2025.
202526: Renovations for the elementary campuses could occur.
202627: The identied campuses could reopen and operate as their new purpose.
202425 Final year that two identied central elementary schools and one identied south elementary school could operate as their current campus.
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: NUMBERS MAY NOT EQUAL TOTAL DUE TO ROUNDING.
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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