During a special meeting Aug. 3 an advisory committee recommended the Georgetown ISD board of trustees call for a $160.6 million bond election for November to fund new schools and improvements. The decision is now up to trustees.
Several members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, made up of teachers, parents and community leaders, were at the meeting to make the recommendation to the board. The entire 35-member group had met six times to discuss proposed projects since March.
The proposed projects range from updating aging facilities to building additional space in anticipation of growth in the district.
Committee member Bob Brent said the Georgetown community values education and would likely choose to support projects that are based on needs.
“We believe as a committee, if you chose to put this to the voters it will be positively received,” he said.
The committee made 12 project recommendations to the board. The largest portion, $31.4 million, was recommended to build a new Purl Elementary School next to the current building.
Students would attend the current campus until the new Purl Elementary building is built, then transition to the new building, district spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said.
The campus would transition from a pre-K through second-grade campus to pre-K through fifth grade, and students from Williams Elementary School would also attend the new Purl Elementary building.
With district staff in offices throughout town, the committee recommended allocating $14.8 million to convert Williams Elementary building into an administration and professional development center.
“That would allow all district-level staff to be in one spot and make room for a professional learning space for teachers,” Marchman said.
The committee also proposed $26.1 million for additions and renovations to Tippet Middle School. The campus needs improvements for safety and security issues because the building has multiple points of entry, Marchman said. The cafeteria is separated from the main building, which would likely be flagged as an improvement.
Another $27 million is recommended to complete funding for the construction of the district’s fourth middle school. The campus was initially included in the 2010 bond, though it was put on hold to complete other projects, Marchman said. Close to $28 million in 2010 bond funds was dedicated for the design and planning of the building.
Other projects include $23.4 million for Georgetown High School Phase 2 upgrades and renovations, $1.5 million for campus security, $7.2 million for repairing roofs and parking, $1.2 million to replace the turf at the GISD Athletic Complex, $8.5 million for repairs and replacements to HVAC systems, $4.8 million for land acquisition, $12.7 million for technology upgrades and $2 million for new buses.
Committee member Barbara Pearce told the board the Citizens Advisory Committee also considered adding an aquatics facility to the list of recommendations. The possibility was brought up toward the end of their meetings, and members did not have as much information on the impact of a possible aquatics center as the other projects, she said. Instead, the committee recommended trustees pursue an evaluation of the district’s need for an aquatic facility using funds from the maintenance and operations budget, she said.
The board will likely decide whether to call for a November bond election at its Aug. 17 board meeting, Marchman said.
During a special meeting Aug. 3 an advisory committee recommended the Georgetown ISD board of trustees call for a $160.6 million bond election for November to fund new schools and improvements. The decision is now up to trustees.
Several members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, made up of teachers, parents and community leaders, were at the meeting to make the recommendation to the board. The entire 35-member group had met six times to discuss proposed projects since March.
The proposed projects range from updating aging facilities to building additional space in anticipation of growth in the district.
Committee member Bob Brent said the Georgetown community values education and would likely choose to support projects that are based on needs.
“We believe as a committee, if you chose to put this to the voters it will be positively received,” he said.
The committee made 12 project recommendations to the board. The largest portion, $31.4 million, was recommended to build a new Purl Elementary School next to the current building.
Students would attend the current campus until the new Purl Elementary building is built, then transition to the new building, district spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said.
The campus would transition from a pre-K through second-grade campus to pre-K through fifth grade, and students from Williams Elementary School would also attend the new Purl Elementary building.
With district staff in offices throughout town, the committee recommended allocating $14.8 million to convert Williams Elementary building into an administration and professional development center.
“That would allow all district-level staff to be in one spot and make room for a professional learning space for teachers,” Marchman said.
The committee also proposed $26.1 million for additions and renovations to Tippet Middle School. The campus needs improvements for safety and security issues because the building has multiple points of entry, Marchman said. The cafeteria is separated from the main building, which would likely be flagged as an improvement.
Another $27 million is recommended to complete funding for the construction of the district’s fourth middle school. The campus was initially included in the 2010 bond, though it was put on hold to complete other projects, Marchman said. Close to $28 million in 2010 bond funds was dedicated for the design and planning of the building.
Other projects include $23.4 million for Georgetown High School Phase 2 upgrades and renovations, $1.5 million for campus security, $7.2 million for repairing roofs and parking, $1.2 million to replace the turf at the GISD Athletic Complex, $8.5 million for repairs and replacements to HVAC systems, $4.8 million for land acquisition, $12.7 million for technology upgrades and $2 million for new buses.
Committee member Barbara Pearce told the board the Citizens Advisory Committee also considered adding an aquatics facility to the list of recommendations. The possibility was brought up toward the end of their meetings, and members did not have as much information on the impact of a possible aquatics center as the other projects, she said. Instead, the committee recommended trustees pursue an evaluation of the district’s need for an aquatic facility using funds from the maintenance and operations budget, she said.
The board will likely decide whether to call for a November bond election at its Aug. 17 board meeting, Marchman said.
