Fourteen San Angelo, Texas, ISD campuses are targeted for upgrades and repairs if a nearly $149 million bond is passed by voters in May.
School board officials on Monday called for a $148.99 million bond election to address the district's aging facilities, expansion and security needs.
"This is not something we just came up with," said Max Parker, the board's vice president. "This really is a continuation of what we've been discussing for over 10 years."
Parker said taxpayers and stakeholders entrust the school district's property to trustees' care, and to do that, back in 2006 or 2007 trustees got Huckabee Architects to perform an assessment of all school property.
"We asked them to come and make an evaluation of every campus that we had and assess ... all aspects of the school and then rank campuses from worst to best," he said, noting that based on their recommendations campuses were selected for upgrades and renovations.
If approved by voters, money from the 2018 bond would be used to make facility updates at Central and Lake View High Schools as well as campuses not covered in the district's 2008 bond election. The $117 million bond in 2008 was covered eight elementary campuses, one middle school and both high schools.
Central had renovations completed throughout the campus from the 2008 bond, including a new administration and science building, at an estimated cost of $47.5 million. Lake View replaced portables with 10 classroom additions and had two science labs built at an estimated cost of $2.8 million.
The new bond proposal calls for the construction of a 3,000-seat multipurpose center and entry lobby connecting to Central's Sarah Bernhardt Theatre, plus additional parking.
Lake View is set to gain new baseball and softball field houses with locker rooms, concessions, restrooms and additional parking.
The board was encouraged to seek a bond election by the district's long range facilities planning committee -- a 30-member committee comprising parents, educators, business owners and civic leaders.
The committee met several times since September to discuss current and long-term facility needs that prompted the bond proposal.
"We still had about $175 million or so of repairs, maintenance, construction that had been recommended by Huckabee that hasn't been touched, couldn't be touched with the (2008) bond issue because the bond wasn't that large," Parker said, estimating about 20 projects not touched with bond money were supported over the past eight to 10 years through the district's fund balance.
"Many of our facilities now are 40, 50, 60 years old, and we're planning for the future so that in 2050-2060 -- really the next generation learners -- will have the environments that are conducive to learning for them," said Superintendent Carl Dethloff.
The proposed bond could increase the school district's tax rate by about 14.25 cents, for a total tax rate of $1.3525 per $100 property valuation. The current rate is at $1.21. Of that, $1.04 is levied for maintenance and operation expenses and 17 cents for debt service.
Based on the average SAISD home value, the district estimates a $154,000 home will see an property tax increase of $15.32 per month, or about $183.84 a year.
