CONROE, Texas – Conroe Independent School District is averaging about 3,000 new students per year. The district has added over 250 portable classrooms to help accommodate the influx of students.
The district is hoping voters will approve a nearly $2 billion bond to help build new schools, renovate campuses, and upgrade technology devices.
“It’s grown extremely fast. I think too fast from what we were expecting, and I think that with having as many portables as we do at Suchma we would appreciate and vote on this bond,” Tasha Restrepo said.
The bond package includes four different propositions:
Proposition A: $1.8 billion
- 8 new schools
- 3 additions
- 5 major renovations
- 2 master plans
- Infrastructure
- Safety
- Land
- Transportation
- Tech Infrastructure
Proposition B: $40 million
- Technology Devices
Proposition C: $112.87 million
- 16 PE Classrooms/Elementary Gyms
- CTE-Ag Barns
Proposition D: $22.9 million
- Outdoor Pool
- Expand and upgrade the current natatorium
Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null said the district has about 72,000 students and will pass the 100,000 threshold in the next few years. The district has 251 classrooms that are in portable buildings.
“Building an elementary school that holds 950 students has 50 classrooms. So, 250 portable buildings is equivalent to five elementary schools worth of portable classrooms across the district,” Dr. Null said.
Tasha Restrepo has a son who attends Suchma Elementary and she is in favor of the bond.
“I’m grateful for the portables, however, if we can have the classrooms itself, that would be even better,” she said.
Holly Moore has two children in the district and said she is in favor of the bond package.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend our money or better way to support our schools. We have schools that are currently using a shared space for gym and cafeteria. Having to navigate what that looks like in a day with 500-700 kids in a school. We have students in different zones that don’t have access to an Ag Barn. They can’t participate in programs because they don’t have that,” she said.
Harry Vein is part of the bond committee and also serves as a spokesperson for the district. He said if approved, the bond package would result in a two-cent tax rate-- $350,000.
“To invest that small of an amount in children’s life and to give a stable school system to lessen the overcrowding and give every student an opportunity to succeed, how can we say no to that?” Vein asked.
“I think the district has done a great job of being transparent throughout the entire process, from their bond planning committee to information available on the website and the projections to make these decisions. I think they have been honest with us throughout the whole process,” Moore said.
Early voting is underway. Election Day is Nov. 7.
To read more about the bond package, click here.