DALLAS — Voters in Texas overwhelmingly approved the largest bond package on Tuesday’s ballot for a school system — two propositions totaling $294 million from the Round Rock Independent School District — with about 60% in favor of each proposition.
Round Rock officials initially mulled a referendum as high as $350 million but some worried that figure was too high and would be rejected.
The growing suburban district just north of Austin will use proceeds from the authorization to build three new elementary schools, purchase land for five future campuses, upgrade technology — including replacement of the central computer system — and renovate numerous facilities.
While the district served about 26,000 students a decade ago, officials now project an enrollment of 45,000 by 2013.
In North Texas, voters in the rapidly growing Keller Independent School District approved a $142.3 million proposition for two more campuses, but rejected a $25.6 million proposition for a second football stadium.
Earlier this year, the suburban district about 18 miles north of Fort Worth also was considering another middle school and renovations to a natatorium, but officials decided to keep the third bond referendum in four years less than $200 million.
Enrollment rose 8% annually the past five years, and the same level of growth — roughly 2,000 students a year — is expected for the next few years pushing the student population to more than 40,000 over the next decade.
On the other side of the DFW metroplex, voters in Wylie Independent School District rejected a $98.3 million bond question by a vote of 53% to 47%. But the electorate approved an increase in the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate to $1.17 per $100 of assessed value with 52% voting in favor.
The district, which is about 25 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, is adding a few hundred students a year and now serves a total enrollment of almost 11,000. At about 33,000, the estimated 2007 population for the city of Wylie is more than double the 2000 Census figure of 15,132.
Allen Independent School District voters overwhelmingly approved a $219 million bond package by a 3 to 1 margin, according to the district. Officials said 28,363 votes were cast, as opposed to juts 3,338 in the last bond election in 2004.
The district, which is about 25 miles north of Dallas, said this bond package should complete its construction projects. The district is nearly 80% built out and enrollment growth has slowed lately, after double-digit gains annually for most of the last decade. Allen ISD serves about 18,000 students.
Corpus Christi Independent School District had all three of its propositions pass with nearly two-thirds of voters approving $140 million for four elementary schools and $52 million for technology, security, and athletic facility upgrades. The final ballot item, for a 2-cent increase to the M&O tax, passed with nearly 54% of the vote, according to the Gulf Coast district.
