HOUSTON – In less than a month, Houston area voters will head to the polls and vote on Houston Independent School District and its largest bond proposals in Texas history.
In addition to the $4.4 billion bond proposal request, the district appointed a 28-person advisory committee, consisting of elected trustees, teachers, community advocates, and parents.
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The committee, according to the district, was put in place to help the community understand the bond and further explain the district’s immediate needs. Three members, former HEB president Scott McClellan, former Texas state Representative Garnet Coleman, and former president and current trustee of the HISD Board of Trustees Judith Cruz, will co-chair the advisory committee.
The bond, which is potentially the largest in Texas history, is said to address the district’s $10 billion need in overdue facility upgrades.
If approved, the district will begin construction in 2025.
You can read the full proposal here:
Here’s more information about the proposal:
How is 2024 different from the 2012 bond?
In 2012, HISD received its last bond, amounting to $1.9 billion, aimed at replacing and repairing 40 schools, predominantly high schools, throughout the district.
21 high schools received new campuses, three other high schools were partially replaced, 5 elementary schools were converted into K-8 campuses, 3 new elementary schools were built, and 2 middle schools were replaced or completed.
The new bond proposal, which requests a significantly larger amount of money, says 32% of the district’s buildings, despite the changes made with the 2012 bond funds, are still at least 50 years old and need repairs.
In the first set of meetings held to address the bond, the district said it’s investing $1.35 billion into updating HVAC systems, securing campuses, and testing whether school grounds, air, water, and buildings meet environmental standards. And $1 billion would go to career and technical education, early childhood education and district technology investments. Improving district technology includes securing student data, expanding broadband access, and accessing AI.
According to the district, most of the new repairs will take place at elementary and middle schools since the high school was renovated with the 2012 bond.
Six campuses would be renovated: Baylor at Ryan Middle School, Deady Middle School, Attucks Middle School, Cornelius Elementary School, Petersen Elementary School and Windsor Village Elementary School. Two schools are listed as “move and renovate” in the plan: Blackshear Elementary School and Sanchez Elementary School.
What improvements were made with the 2007 bond?
In 2007, voters approved a $805 million bond program, which focused on more than 180 construction and renovation projects across the district.
According to the HISD website, in Sept. 2012, the district delivered on its promises by opening 20 new schools and renovating more 134 campuses. Also, all schools in the district at that time received safety and security upgrades, including new fencing, security cameras, and public address systems.
What happens next?
The committee will host several more in-person meetings, including one on June 4 at 6 p.m. at Fondren Middle School, one on June 5 at 6 p.m. at Fleming Middle School, and one on June 10 at 6 p.m. at Forest Brook Middle School. The bond committee will also hold a virtual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday.