Fort Bend ISD residents voted and approved a $1.26 billion bond to help fund improvements with projects ranging from renovating the school to funding better technology in the school.
“This is an austere bond,” Deputy Superintendent Steven Bassett said, according to the FBISD website. “We are asking for what we need; We are not asking for fluff. It’s over a billion because we’re both the sixth-largest school district in the state, and it’s been five years since we had a bond proposal. It just doesn’t happen overnight.”
Due to it being a big bond, they decided to split the bond into propositions that focus on various aspects of these schools and let the voters decide which proposition to execute first. There are 3 propositions, proposition A, proposition B, and proposition C.
Proposition A is $1.18 million dollars in upgrades to transportation, security, and construction. Many of these schools are older than 30 years and have yet to see major refinement or reconstruction with major maintenance issues such as HVAC, plumbing, and roofing being unattended to. Most of this fund will be to reconstruct school campuses, with the most expensive one being Clements High School, which amounts to $222.8 million for reconstruction with other schools like Briargate and Mission Bend being $47 million for reconstruction. They also plan to use $30 million to upgrade campus systems such as the intercom, sprinklers, and fire alarms. The $6 million left will be used for security such as weapons, police cars, and security cameras.
One of FBISD’s assistant directors for Child Nutrition, Aubrey Shorter, discussed his stance on the bond and how it will impact the students and staff.
“I do know that the bond will help the staff and students in almost every aspect of the school, especially in the cafeteria,” Shorter said. “The kitchen and other appliances used to make food will be more modern and up-to-date. And the bond will improve schools where the foundation and walls are breaking down and almost worn out. This bond will make the school secure, safe, and clean for the students and staff.”
Technology is an important part of the school, so they have decided to focus proposition B on upgrading laptops/computers for staff and students. The district will put $52 million dollars into this proposition and will continue to use the two students: one device ratio.
Due to there being only one swimming facility currently in FBISD, Proposition C will be focused on funding an indoor swimming facility in the southeast region of the district. The total cost comes to $22 million.
The voters passed all three propositions. From unofficial results, proposition B had 66.62% of the votes. In second, proposition A received 65.66% of the votes. Proposition C had 56.67% of the votes.
