By NICK BROTHERS
Hill Country News

Leander ISD voters will decide next month to either enact or oppose a $454.4 million bond proposal that would construct four new schools, improve safety of facilities and accommodate for projected growth in the district.

Last week, the Austin Chamber of Commerce endorsed the bond proposal, citing its support for how the proposal will keep the tax rate steady, and how it takes current and future growth into account.

Additionally the political action committee, Growing LISD’s Future, is gaining momentum while it is encouraging residents to vote for the bond.

LISD’s Board of Trustees called for the election at their Aug. 17 meeting, which will take place Nov. 7. Early Voting is Monday, Oct. 23 through Friday, Nov. 3. For more information on when and how to vote, visit VoteTexas.gov.

The rapid growth of the district was a major factor in the allocating of the bond’s funds, according to Victor Villarreal, co-chairman of the bond advisory steering committee.

The last bond election for Leander ISD took place in 2007. Since Leander’s last bond election in 2007, the district grew by 11,828 students. The school district is expected to grow by 1,200 new students annually and add 123 new jobs per year, according to the school district.

Property taxes will remain steady at $1.51 per $100 valuation and are frozen for qualifying residents ages 65 and older who have filed a homestead exemption, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

“To have a vibrant, prosperous and growing community, we need a strong school system to attract residents and the youth,” said Pam Waggoner, LISD Board of Trustees president and trustee, place 3. “I believe our communities have received the benefits of a strong school district.”

In recent weeks leading up to the election, district officials have been hosting information sessions about the contents of the bond proposal with PTAs, booster clubs, civic clubs and various homeowner associations.

Superintendent Dan Troxell will give a bond presentation next week, Oct. 19, after the West Austin Chamber of Commerce luncheon at 1 p.m. at the River Place Country Club. He also gave a presentation on Sept. 27 at Vandegrift.

Detailed breakdowns of the bond’s contents are available at www.leanderisd.org/bond2017.

Breakdown of the bond funding
The $454,400,000 bond is divided and allocated into five categories: high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and technology and ancillary needs.

“It was challenging for the steering committee to wade through the volume of suggestions,” Villarreal said. “LISD is a large district and has a lot of constituencies. Committees were very holistic, and there was a strong diversity of thought.”

A total of $172.5 million is slated for elementary school improvements, $117.5 million for middle schools and $96.7 million for high school improvements in the bond, and $38.7 million for technology needs, and $28.8 million for ancillary.

Several improvements to area high school athletic facilities are in the proposal, including a $1.1 million expansion of grandstands at Vandegrift’s Monroe Stadium, replacing grandstands at CPHS Stadium for $658,000 and increasing safety of dugouts and seating at Cedar Park and Leander high schools.

Designs for a seventh high school due in 2024 are projected to cost about $10 million, and more than $20 million is required for purchasing land for an eighth high school in the region.

Cedar Park middle school, as well as Leander Middle School, are recommended for major maintenance to their HVAC systems, lighting, carpet and paint at a total estimated expense of $28,009,844. Both campuses are at the end of their service life and are due for facility and equipment refurbishing and replacement, said Shaun Cranston, co-chair of the appointed bond advisory steering committee.

Due to its burgeoning drama programs, a theater arts black box classroom addition for Leander High School is budgeted for $1.2 million.

Renovations are proposed for career and technical classrooms at CPHS, LHS, VRHS and VHS, and are estimated to cost $11.7 million.

There’s also a recommended $6.2 million for a new building to create a permanent solution for portables at Leander MS.

VHS is also recommended for $29,548,592 in additions and renovations to increase student capacity.

And, Vipers make the list under “optional” line items for construction of an agriculture barn, as does Glenn High School, and a career and technical education Incubator program classroom, as does Vista Ridge High School. Total estimated costs of these projects are $6,932,120 and $1,066,107, respectively.

As for CTE INCubator classrooms, this is a new program that will begin in August at VRHS and is slated to start-up at VHS in 2018.