The committee consisted of parents, students, campus administrators, volunteers and city government officials, said Hilltop Elementary teacher Hilary Loupot, who presented the plans alongside Argyle resident and Mortgage Consultant Rich McDowell.
After months of meetings, the committee formed a list of projects, some of which were in the pipeline as part of the district’s 10-year strategic growth, to be covered by its recommended $580 million bond package, according to district documents. The committee requested the board call the bond election for May.
“We have to plan for this growth. We have to plan for our future,” Loupot said. “As an educator here and as a mother, I was very proud of the work we did through this committee.”
The details
A key difference between the proposed 2024 bond and previous ones is that it was the first bond created with the 10-year strategic plan in mind, McDowell said. Therefore, construction projects outlined in that plan were given priority.
The main projects include constructing a new middle school and two elementary schools. Additionally, the bond calls for a renovation to the academic wing of Argyle High School at Canyon Falls Drive to allow for improved foot traffic circulation, McDowell said. It also outlined renovations at the existing middle school, which would expand the cafeteria into the second gym space and rebuild its competition and auxiliary gyms as a result of losing that space.
The bond proposal allotted about $38 million for capital improvements at Hilltop Elementary, The Sixth Grade Center and Argyle Middle School as well as $75 million for land acquisition and maintenance and $13.5 million for technology, according to district documents.
One more thing
The board must call for the bond election before Feb. 16 to hold the election this spring, McDowell said. If an election is called, early voting would be held between April 22 and April 30.
“Everything was done with the kids and the future growth of Argyle ISD in mind,” McDowell said.
