Voters in the Austin (Texas) district have overwhelmingly approved a $1.05 billion bond issue that will pay for facility upgrades throughout the system.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that 72 percent of voters supported the proposal and 28 percent were opposed.
The money will pay to rebuild multiple schools, construct new campuses and address crowded campuses. The ballot success comes four years after voters rejected half of a district bond request in 2013.
Among the projects included in the bond package:
• new buildings for Brown, Casis, Govalle, Menchaca elementaries and the Rosedale School.
• a new 800-student middle school in the Mueller development.
• a new elementary within District 2, which feeds into LBJ High School
• a new elementary within District 1, which feeds into Eastside Memorial High School
• relocation of LASA High School to the Johnston campus, where it can expand to accommodate 2,000 students
• relocation of and new 800-student building for Eastside Memorial High School from the Johnston campus to the original L.C. Anderson site
• Phase 1 modernization of Bowie High School
• Phase 1 modernization of Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
• Phase 1 construction of a school to relieve overcrowding at Blazier Elementary
Construction could begin as early as fall 2018.
The victory margin was a stark difference from the 2013 district bond results, when two of four propositions failed, and those that passed did so narrowly. Nearly twice as many voters cast ballots on Tuesday as did in the 2013 bond election, which was held in May.
MORE: YouTube Video from the Austin Independent School District:
