Work toward a potential May 2027 multimillion-dollar bond in Eanes ISD is taking shape, as Long-Range Facility Planning Committee members Craig Boyle, Tom Oehler and Holly Noel provided the board of trustees with an update on potential bond scenarios during the March 24 board meeting.
Looking back
The LRFPC first presented a list of recommendations to the board last May, which the board further discussed at an October meeting. These recommended projects included:
- Closing and repurposing Eanes Elementary as a central hub for the early childhood program
- Modernizing Barton Creek Elementary, Bridge Point Elementary and West Ridge Middle schools
- Replacing entire campuses for Cedar Creek Elementary, Forest Trail Elementary and Hill Country Middle schools
- Upgrades at Westlake High School, such as constructing a multistory academic building and library, three parking garages to generate revenue, and expanding the career and technical education space, band and orchestra facilities, gym courts and weight rooms
Most recently, Chief Financial Officer Chris Scott discussed potential impacts of a bond on the district's debt service tax rate during the Feb. 24 board meeting. According to Scott, the LRFPC's list of recommendations would equate to about a $900 million bond.
Sorting out details
According to Oehler, current construction costs in the local market for elementary schools are between $50 million-$70 million, with $80 million-$135 million for middle schools and $240 million-$320 million for high schools.
Oehler said the LRFPC will continue to work with local contractors to verify estimated project costs and take into account other factors, such as contingencies, permitting and other fees, inflation, and costs for furniture, technology and other equipment.
The LRFPC's recommended construction timeline was also built with logistics and facility needs and standards in mind, Noel said.
As discussed at an LRFPC meeting last year, this timeline would consider:
- Using Valley View Elementary as a staging site to accommodate Cedar Creek Elementary and Forest Trail Elementary students during its campus rebuilds
- Using Eanes Elementary as a staging site to accommodate Barton Creek Elementary students during its campus rebuild
- Using WHS' ninth grade center as a staging site to accommodate Hill Country Middle School students during its campus rebuild
- Completing a new classroom building at WHS to accommodate students currently using the ninth grade center
Boyle said the LRFPC is also recommending the board select members from this committee to participate in the Bond Advisory Committee along with others who are familiar with the bond process, and start community engagement efforts this summer.
"That feedback will be invaluable to see how much can we propose and what projects should take priority among those propositions," Boyle said.
What they're saying
Superintendent Kirk Koennecke said the LRFPC has strategized preconstruction efforts and ways to be "as shovel-ready as possible" the day after the election, regardless of if or when the board makes a decision about a bond.
"That is really important for our savvy community of people who have high expectations and want to see the light at the end of the tunnel the minute they know a return on investment could be coming," Koennecke said.
Trustee John Troy also said that while these types of projects could bolster enrollment, the board still has major discussions ahead.
"There are some big, strategic-type decisions baked into this plan that the seven of us have never discussed, and we need to make time for that," Troy said. "Closing Eanes [Elementary] is just one example."
What's next
In order for EISD to hold a May 2027 election, the draft bond planning timeline would have to begin in August, Oehler said.
Per the plan, between six to eight BAC meetings would be held between August and December, with the goal for a formal recommendation to go before the board in December. Doing so would allow time for the committee to respond to board and community input, Oehler said.
"We're not trying to be presumptuous and say, 'You're going to call a bond or you're going to do something in May,' but if we want to achieve something in May, this is our best chance to get there," Oehler said. "If the board decided to do something else and say, 'We still want to some additional planning or we want to go out to November [2027],' this still gets us there."
The last day to call for a bond election is Feb. 12, 2027, with election day taking place May 1.
