The Blanco Independent School District plans to renovate its historic elementary school campus with proceeds from $8.8 million of general obligation bonds if voters approve the measure at the Nov. 2 election.
A two-room school was first built on the site in 1884.
It was later rebuilt and expanded several times using stones that were quarried for the original structure.
The oldest portion of the structure currently is not used for education, but the hill country district northwest of San Antonio would spend $5 million of the proceeds to renovate the school to add 16 classrooms, computer and science labs, and a library.
Other projects include upgrades at other schools and a new transportation building.
If voters approve the bonds, the district’s property tax rate of $1.15 per $100 of assessed value would go to $1.21 per $100.
The school district’s outstanding debt is rated Baa1 by Moody’s Investors Service, but receives a triple-A rating due to coverage by Texas’ Permanent School Fund.
Voters approved the district’s last bond request in 1997 for $6.5 million to build a high school.
The Blanco County district has 965 students.
