Laredo ISD, Texas, trustees decided Thursday night to float a $150 million bond that would pay for a new Cigarroa Middle School, renovations to Cigarroa High and a handful of other improvements.
School board members Cecilia Moreno, Hector Garcia, Rick Garza, Cindy Liendo and Jose Perez voted 5-0 to call for the bond election. Hector Noyola and Jose Valdez were absent.
The proposition will be placed on the May ballot. If the bond is approved by voters, LISD would need to increase the property tax rate by $0.1455. Its current tax rate is $1.3697 per $100 property valuation.
In addition to revamping the Cigarroa complex, the bond would pay for:
- Renovations to Ligarde, Dovalina and Kawas elementary schools
- Martin High School science building renovation
- Nixon High School ROTC building renovation
- Nixon High vocational upgrades
During Thursday's meeting, LISD staff said the bond could also pay for an athletic weight facility at Nixon High and completion of the administration building. That building will be located on the grounds of the LISD Performing Arts Center, previously known as the Civic Center. These projects would be worked on after all the other bond-funded projects are completed and if there's leftover bond money.
During the past month, LISD trustees have been discussing what bond package would be most beneficial to students and taxpayers. LISD administration presented the school board with six options for a bond package. Five of them called for splitting the bond into two propositions. For example, one proposition would request a $79 million bond to build a new Cigarroa Middle School and renovate Cigarroa High while a separate proposition would request a $71 million bond for the other projects.
But trustees decided Thursday to go with just one proposition that includes all the projects.
"We just want to make sure we provide all of our students with the best possible facilities and as many opportunities as possible to move forward with their college and career readiness," LISD Superintendent Sylvia Rios said.
The Cigarroa complex would be the focal point of the bond project.
Cigarroa middle and high schools were built in 1983 and have not undergone any major renovations or construction since. Both campuses have experienced leaking as a result of roof problems. The schools also have outdated facilities and an inefficient layout for monitoring students, among other areas needing improvement, LISD said previously.
Garcia, LISD school board president, said the Cigarroa buildings that are in good condition won't be touched but rather renovated and put to good use.
"It's not a 'knock everything down and start over,'" Garcia said. "We just built a brand new wing, so that's going to be part of the new construction. It's going to stay there. But the buildings that are leaking and all that, we have to bring those down to get technology in there and get the roofs right."
