The Fort Bend (Texas) Independent School District has won decisive approval of a $992.6 million bond proposal that will pay for construction and renovation throughout the system.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the bond package includes $403.4 million for new construction projects, $396.5 million for upgrades, repairs and renovations to existing campuses, $142.6 million for technology upgrades, $19.7 million for land purchases, $14.9 million in security upgrades and $10.6 million for new school buses and other transportation-related expenses.
Unofficial election results showed the bond request won 74.7 percent of the vote.
The district needs to continue adding classrooms as the area's student population steadily climbs. Fort Bend projects that its enrollment, now about 75,000, will surpass 85,000 students by 2027.
The planned new construction includes three new elementary schools and a $178 million high school in the Sienna Plantation area near Missouri City.
Bonds also would pay to rebuild Lakeview Elementary School in Sugar Land and Meadows Elementary in Meadow's Place.
Four high schools are slated for renovations: Elkins High School ($22.4 million), Kempner High School ($21.4 million), Austin High School ($19.2 million); and Clements High School ($15.2 million). Administrators proposed gutting Clements to make structural repairs.
Planned middle school renovations include Hodges Bend Middle School ($12.6 million), First Colony Middle School ($12.6 million) and Quail Valley Middle School ($10.5 million).
Technology expenditures would go for new computers for district staff, new laptops or tablets for students to use in classrooms, and additional devices that students can check out at the school library for home use.
