Friendswood ISD is moving ahead with several projects funded through its 2026 bond program, including the purchase of new school buses, renovations to the district’s agricultural science facilities, new science labs and a roof replacement at Westwood Elementary.
The projects were among updates presented to the board of trustees at its Sept. 14 meeting.
What’s new
At the meeting, the board approved nearly $1.7 million for the purchase of nine 77-passenger buses and two 53-passenger buses, funded through the 2026 bond, district documents show.
The buses will comply with Senate Bill 546, passed during the 89th Texas Legislature, which requires Texas school districts to equip all school buses with three-point seat belts for every rider by Sept. 1, 2029.
In April, the district determined that 41 buses in its current fleet would not meet the requirement by the 2029 deadline, with a full replacement costing an estimated $6.6 million, as previously reported by Community Impact.
The newly approved purchase will allow the district to remove 10 noncompliant buses that can’t be retrofitted, district documents show.
Zooming in
As a part of the 2026 bond, plans are advancing for the $12.9 million renovation and expansion of the district’s career and agricultural science center, which will include 150 animal pens, a show arena, wash areas and additional parking for vehicles and trailers, as previously reported by Community Impact.
The project is currently in the design phase, with the completed plans scheduled to be presented to the board for review in November. If the plans are approved, construction is expected to begin in April 2027 and take around nine months, with substantial completion anticipated by late December 2027, district documents show.
New science labs at Windsong Elementary and Bales Intermediate are also moving through the design process and will be presented to the board in October.
If the designs are approved, construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027 and take around six months, with substantial completion expected by early August 2027, district documents show.
Also of note
Over the summer, the district found increased moisture in parts of the roof at Westwood Elementary, prompting a delay to the start of school and nearly $200,000 in roof replacement and related work, district documents show.
The district is also looking for solutions to address humidity at the campus, including replacing chillers and potentially piping, district officials said at the meeting.
The remediation work is funded through Proposition A of the 2026 bond, which allocates $26 million for critical infrastructure and aging facility replacements, district documents show.
The district has also begun to finalize its critical infrastructure list and determine project timelines, including planning major work such as HVAC improvements, documents show.
Looking ahead
The board is scheduled to review the science lab designs in October and the career and agricultural science center designs in November as the district continues implementing projects included in the 2026 bond program.
