The Austin (Texas) school board has decided to place a $1.05 billion bond proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that despite the massive size of the bond request, it would not result in a tax increase.
The proposed improvements outlined in the facilities plan total $1.13 billion; trustees plan to apply $83.8 million in projected leftover bond funds and possible land sales of East Austin schools to reduce the total package amount.
The district says the bond plan is an effort to begin address what its facilities master plan has identified as $4 billion in needs in the 84,000-student system. The November proposal focuses on the most critical needs, officials say.
Officials say the proposal would re-envision 21st-century learning spaces for 16 schools.
It calls for projects to address facility deficiencies districtwide. Those include:
• $196 million for critical facility deficiencies
• $168 million for new builds for Brown, Casis, Govalle, Menchaca and Rosedale
• $88 million for Phase 1 modernization of Bowie High School
• $80 million for a new 800-student campus for Eastside Memorial on the original L.C. Anderson High site
• $70 million for Phase 1 modernization of Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
• $61 million for a 800-student northeast middle school in the Mueller development
• $60 million for majority rebuild of Doss Elementary, expansion of Hill Elementary
• $55.5 million for technology
• $50 million for Phase 1 build of a new relief school for Blazier
• $36 million for 522-student southwest elementary
• $25 million for new elementary in northeast Austin (LBJ vertical team modernization project)
• $25 million for new elementary in southeast Austin (Eastide vertical team modernization project)
• $23.7 million for Phase 1 modernization of Murchison Middle School.
