Here are four things to know from the meeting:
PISD trustees appoint board officers
Rebecca Decker was re-appointed as president, Charles Gooden Jr. was appointed as vice president and Jeff Barry was appointed as secretary of the board. Read the full story here.
Bond-funded plans for Turner High School, Pearland High School move forward
The Pearland Independent School District unveiled the design of the new career and technical education center slated for Turner High School.[/caption]The 2016 bond, which voters approved in November, allows for a new career and technical education center and an extension for the agricultural facility at Robert Turner College and Career High School. Trustees approved the design of the new center, which will include classroom space for HVAC, welding and culinary. With this addition, Turner High will be able to introduce a new culinary program for the students, as the school previously lacked the space and equipment.
A redesign of Pearland High School was also unveiled during the meeting. Its facade will include a curved white awning over the walkway and a red brick exterior on the front entrance of the building. Trustees only considered the new design, which will include realigning the entryways.
In March, board members approved for the reconstruction and additions to Dawson High School, Junior High West School and Sablatura Middle School
PISD trustees approve bond sales
Trustees approved the sale of $107.8 million in bonds, which is the first round of bonds to be sold since voters approved the $220 million bond election in November. The school board heard from financial advisor John Robuck of BOK Financial Securities Inc. about issuing building bonds at a tax rate. Robuck reports that the appraised values of the bonds are higher than what the board had originally estimated, which is expected to save money for the taxpayers. The district may be able to lock in maturity rates of 25 years rather than the originally projected 30 years, which would save money on annual interest accruals.
Parents vent frustrations over district rezoning for 2016-17 school year
The 2016-2017 zoning map split some Pearland area neighborhoods. Students that were at one campus before the rezoning were unchanged by the new rule, but younger siblings who started school during the 2016-17 school year were forced to attend a different campus. Parents complained about long commute times to drop off and pick up their children. PISD is unable to transfer students to a different campus if the campus is at least 92 percent of capacity, according to district policy.
