At a Jan. 12 board meeting, trustees discussed the $482 million proposal, which includes funding for two new elementary schools as well as districtwide additions and renovations.
District administration also added three new items to the bond proposal: $70 million for a district performing arts center, $40 million for additions to the district's academic center and $45 million for teacher housing.
The additions bring the proposed package's total to $637 million.
Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas said the teacher housing item could help Hutto ISD remain an attractive option for teachers as nearby districts, such as Pflugerville ISD and Austin ISD, approve funding for similar projects.
"The teacher housing is really tied to teacher retention," Estrada Thomas said. "Our neighbors to the immediate south who have passed teacher housing packages—they're going to have an advantage of being able to provide that to their teachers."
The proposed performing arts center would serve the entire district and could also act as a venue for non-school-district events, according to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Henry Gideon.
In their discussion, trustees established approved bond items would likely be split into several propositions, with like items grouped together.
"I like the fact that if we go with admin recommendations it'll still be a separate proposition, so we won't be tied to the committee's recommendation," Trustee Terrence Owens said. "It'll just be something extra, and if voters vote it down, voters vote it down."
The board will have two more regular meetings before the Feb. 17 deadline to call an election. Should the board choose to call an election for some or all of the proposed bond items, they will appear on the ballot in the May 6 election.
