The overview
Following a campaign to inform voters on the needs of the districts, CCISD’s board moved forward unanimously with a bond that voters will decide on in November.
The bond, according to district documents, will go to:
- $228.6 million for student safety and priority repairs
- $59.8 million for technology
- $13.6 million for athletic and fine arts improvements
The breakdown
The bond totals $302 million but on the ballot will be broken down into two different measures.
Those measures, according to election orders approved by board, are:
- $265 million for design, construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, improvement and equipment of school buildings as well as for purchasing any needed sites
- $37 million for technology equipment and systems as well as instructional technology
That total is just half of what was originally recommended by a facilities committee tasked with putting together options for the bond. In June, the board was presented with $614 million worth of projects.
The remainder of the bond could go up for an election in the future with officials considering May 2024 or 2025, according to district documents.
What they’re saying
In the lead-up to Aug. 21, the bond was met with a mix of feedback from both the community and trustees.
At the Aug. 21 meeting, resident Philip Ratisseau gave a public comment about the bond, saying it was too much. He asked why the bond isn’t broken up into more items to allow voters to choose what they want to fund.
“What taxpayers want and what district administrators want are not always the same,” he said. “There are a lot of taxpayers who are hurting.”