Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 5:55 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect that San Marcos CISD has applied to the Texas Education Agency for class-size waivers.  San Marcos CISD will hold a meeting tonight during which trustees and members of a bond committee aimed at identifying needs throughout the district will discuss options for a potential 2017 bond election that would address crowding in district schools, among other issues. According to draft documents, the district will discuss three construction packages totaling $110 million-$120 million. Each of the three construction options to be discussed at tonight's meeting include construction of at least one new elementary school and renovations to increase capacity at campuses throughout the district. According to district documents, three elementary school campuses are over capacity by 52 total students. Crockett, Mendez and Travis elementary schools are over capacity by 37, two and 13 students, respectively. In addition to existing space constraints at Crockett, Mendez and Travis, campuses throughout the district have applied for class-size waivers, which allow more students in a classroom than the state limit of 22 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Assistant Superintendent Karen Griffith said the district hopes to leave the district’s tax rate, which is $1.4141 per $100 of property valuation, unchanged if the bond is passed by voters. The committee may make a recommendation tonight of whether to pursue a May bond, in which case the district would need to formally call for the referendum by Feb. 17, or a November bond, which would require the district to formally call the referendum by Aug. 21. “I guess what people need to look at is that Central Texas is a very popular place right now for growth, and right now our focus is we’re having growth concerns and we have to address those. [We’re] going out to our shareholders without increasing the tax rate and making sure their kids get a good, quality education,” Griffith said. Hays County voters approved a $237.8 million bond in November that will address aging county law-enforcement facilities as well as a variety of transportation projects. The city of San Marcos is also considering a bond in 2017, but Griffith said she is not concerned about potential voter fatigue related to bonds. “[Voters] usually get fatigued when you keep raising tax rates on them,” she said. “I think if we’re not going to be raising their tax rate, it shouldn’t be much of a concern for them.” Trustee Miguel Arredondo said he is optimistic the bond committee—which was appointed by the school board with the charge to identify district needs—will be able to unite behind a solution to the challenges posed by rapid growth throughout the district. "For me, being a citizen during the last two bond elections our school district had, I’m excited this one is geared directly at students, academics and what’s going on in the classroom," he said. "We’re addressing capacity and how students are learning, and I think that’s something the community can wholeheartedly get behind." The three construction packages totaling $110 million-$120 million include:

Option A

  • Construction of a new elementary school to open in 2019
  • Additions to Travis, Crockett, Bowie and De Zavala elementary schools
  • Renovate all elementary schools to provide flexible collaboration space, art and science space, small-group spaces and media center updates
  • An addition and renovation at Miller Middle School to increase capacity to 1,054 students by adding classrooms, science labs and a fine arts addition
  • An addition to San Marcos High School that would increase capacity at the district’s only high school from 2,400 to 2,700 students
  • Technology infrastructure upgrades
  • Energy management
  • A new transportation building for additional buses

Option B

  • Construction of a new elementary school to open in 2019
  • Additions to Travis, Crockett, Bowie and De Zavala elementary schools
  • A renovation and addition at Mendez Elementary School to become a K-8 facility
  • Renovate Hernandez to receive special education department from Mendez
  • Renovate all elementary schools to provide flexible collaboration space, art and science space, small-group spaces and media center updates
  • Upgrades to De Zavala including kitchen updates and cosmetic upgrades, including, paint, ceilings, lights, flooring and administrative reconfiguration
  • Maintenance at De Zavala, Hernandez and Mendez elementary schools
  • An addition and renovation at Miller to increase capacity to 1,054 students by adding classrooms, science labs and a fine arts addition
  • Maintenance at Miller and Goodnight middle schools
  • An addition at San Marcos High School that would increase the campus’s capacity from 2,400 to 2,700 students
  • San Marcos High School classroom additions, including additions to the agriculture science classroom and lab; welding program; robotics program; science, technology, engineering and math program; and automotive program
  • Technology infrastructure upgrades
  • Energy management

Option C

  • Construction of two new elementary schools to open in 2019 and 2023
  • Renovations to elementary schools to provide media center updates
  • Maintenance at De Zavala, Hernandez and Mendez elementary schools
  • An addition and renovation at Miller to increase capacity to 1,054 students by adding classrooms, science labs and a fine arts addition
  • Maintenance at Miller and Goodnight middle schools
  • Addition at San Marcos High School to increase the campus capacity from 2,400 to 2,700 students
  • Renovation of health science and expansion of construction trades at the high school
  • San Marcos High School classroom additions, including additions to the agriculture science classroom and lab; welding program; robotics program; science, technology, engineering and math program; and automotive program
  • Technology infrastructure upgrades
  • Energy management
  • New transportation building for additional buses