Committee recommends $287 million bond package for RRISD

Prop. 1—$225.8 million for growth accommodation, maintenance and new technology

Prop. 2—$22.2 million for expanding students's access to technology, including the reduction of students per shared device.

Prop. 3—$38.9 million for fine arts venues

The committee was charged on Nov. 19 with assessing RRISD's needs in the areas of health and safety, district growth, curriculum and technology and infrastructure. The committee is comprised of 107 volunteers and has four subcommittees–elementary, secondary, finance, and district and technology.

The committee received information on subjects related to RRISD's growth, demographics, special education, and performing arts and technology needs, said Jeff French, co-chairman of the Citizens Bond Committee. The committee also accepted requests from each school, met with principals and toured campuses during the assessment process. It held six public meetings in January to inform residents about the potential bond election.

At the public forums, residents expressed significant support for a natatorium, an indoor swimming facility, according to the CBC. However, it is not included in the proposed bond package because of a lack of input from stakeholders outside of RRISD, according to the committee's report.

"The natatorium did not come forward in this bond and it's not recommended as an item for the next [future] bond," Beto said. "It's an investment asset this is an item that needs discussion from stakeholders in the community as well as the parents who are invested in it and government entities that are going to benefit from having something like that in the district."

The recommended new middle school would be located near Elsa England Middle School and is meant to provide overcrowding relief to Walsh and Deerpark middle schools. The new elementary school included in the package is meant to relieve overcrowding at Wells Branch Elementary School.

About $38.9 million of the proposed total bond package is dedicated to performing arts venues. Currently, about two out of every three requests to use the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (previously known as the RRISD Performing Arts Center) is turned down because of space limitations or scheduling conflicts. The committee recommends either constructing two auditoriums on existing campuses or one smaller performing arts center.

The bond study report includes detailed information about each proposition and proposed project.

Trustees are scheduled to meet Feb. 20 to discuss the recommendations and could decide to call a bond election for May. The public is invited to speak to the board at this meeting. A Feb. 25 meeting is tentatively scheduled in case the board needs more time to make a decision about whether to call a bond election.