While the bond election will not be required to vote on until August, board members gave early support of the priorities presented within the bond.
The big picture
The CAC met six times dating back to earlier this year to discuss priorities, take facility tours and curate a recommendation.
At its final meeting April 22, the committee recommended a number of projects, including adding a Westwood Elementary and Bales Intermediate replacement campus, Friendswood High School athletic facility improvements, agricultural center replacement and inclusive playgrounds, among others.
An increase would occur due to the interest and sinking, or I&S, rate rising as a result of the district taking on more debt through the bond. School tax rates consist of a combined total rate of the maintenance and operation, or M&O, rate, and I&S rate, according to the Texas Education Agency.
I&S rates are used for debt payments that finance district facilities, or bonds, the TEA notes.
The details
In regard to the Westwood and Bales replacement campus, CAC member Brandon Kinsey noted at the board’s meeting safety was at the top of his mind.
CAC member Laura Hartlieb said the Westwood Elementary building, which is nearly 60 years old, may not be able to acclimate to today’s schooling environment.
“The standards in 1967 to build a building are not what they are now when it comes to safety for our students, not just the lockdown situation,” Hartlieb said at the meeting. “Let's face it, we're in the Texas Gulf Coast, and in a way, it's like a sponge, and it starts to trap and create an environment that can be toxic to our kids.”
For the agricultural center, there are nearly 545 students in the agricultural program at FISD. This program allows students to participate in leadership development, public speaking, radio broadcasting, animal science, plant science, wildlife and fishers, vet assistance, Future Farmers of American meetings and mechanical welding maintenance, among other topics.
Currently, half of the agricultural projects are turned away for students due to the small size of the facility, Hartlieb said.
“There are 63 to 108 students with their animals that will not be able to keep them at the Ag. barn, so they are having to either sneak them into their garage against the HOA, or drive all the way to Dickinson or Santa Fe twice a day to feed their animals, which limits their study time,” she said.
To learn more about each priority need for FISD, visit the CAC website.
What they said
Board trustee Niki Rhodes noted when she was on the CAC in 2019, in which the committee recommended a $127 million bond that eventually passed in November 2020.
One of the potential projects that didn’t make the cut in the 2020 bond was related to additions to the agricultural center, which would have cost nearly $3.3 million in 2019.
The district is now recommending a replacement to the center, which will cost over $18 million. However, board President Tony Hopkins noted adding the agricultural improvements on the 2020 bond package would’ve been “a mandate fix,” and not addressed all of the needs within the center.
“If you look at the price [of the agricultural center replacement] then and now ... you see the massive difference,” Rhodes said. “So I want to be really conscientious that we really look at all these things. They're all so important and so needed.”
Board trustee Rebecca Hillenburg said she recently visited FHS athletic facilities and realized the improvements needed.
“Athletics is not necessarily an important part of our family and what we do, but to see the needs ... that's what we have to do,” Hillenburg said. “You have your focus, and we understand that, and we appreciate it greatly, but let's look at the other side and the other parts as well, because they are as equally important for kids and for our staff.”
Looking ahead
The board will have the following timeline for the potential bond:
- June 2: board workshop to discuss bond specifics, provide background and answer questions about recommendations
- Aug. 18: last day to call a bond for the November ballot
- Nov. 4: general election day
