At its Feb. 2 workshop session, the Friendswood ISD board of trustees arrived at a potential $81.5 million bond package and refined proposition language ahead of the Feb. 13 election deadline.
According to district documents, the potential bond would cost about 51% less than the failed 2025 bond and, if approved to be called for an election, would go before voters in May.
The overview
Following additional discussion and revisions of drafts that were presented to the board, trustees ended the Jan. 28 workshop with a four-proposition bond package:
- Proposition A: Critical infrastructure/Lifecycle replacements and safety and security
- Proposition B: Westwood Elementary replacement
- Proposition C: Career and agricultural science center
- Proposition D: Technology
The cost
The proposed $81.5 million bond package would increase the tax rate by up to $0.0349 per $100 valuation of a home.
For a home valued at $500,000, this increase would translate to approximately $125.64 annually, or $10.47 monthly, assuming a $140,000 homestead exemption.
By comparison, the district’s failed 2025 bond proposal was projected to increase the tax rate by $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home, based on projected taxable values for 2025.
For the same $500,000 home, the estimated increase would have been roughly $576 annually, or $48 monthly.
Following adoption of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, FISD is operating at one of its lowest recent tax rates, as previously reported by Community Impact.
The details
The critical repairs and safety plan addresses the district’s most immediate needs, focusing on aging facilities and building systems, including:
- Roof repairs across the district
- District-wide fire alarm systems
- Aging bathrooms and damaged piping at Friendswood High school
- Upgrading science labs at Bales and Windsong Elementary
- Purchase 10 new buses
“Nearly every student is affected by Proposition A,” board member Beau Egert said at the workshop. “There are critical needs across the district at Bales, Windsong and the high school."
The Westwood Elementary conceptual plan is designed to serve approximately 600 students, and includes:
- Off-street parent stacking
- Phased construction
- Eight classrooms each for kindergarten, first and second grades
- Three classrooms each for prekindergarten and early childhood special education
More info
The career and agriculture center plan includes two new facilities for CTE and agricultural programs, along with an outdoor area, while maintaining key features such as holding pens, a welding lab, planting beds, an arena and a chicken coop.
“Agriculture is more than just animals. There is a whole arm of leadership development that is supported by these facilities,” board member Laura Seifert said at the workshop.
The technology proposition focuses on updating and replacing district-wide technology, including upgrades for off-site backup storage, phone systems, student devices and security camera systems.
What’s next
The Citizens Advisory Committee will meet Feb. 3 to review the potential bond package. The board of trustees is scheduled to consider ordering the bond election at its Feb. 9 meeting.
