UPDATE: Voters pass NEISD Bond
On Election Day, district voters passed the North East ISD bond package with 63 percent in favor. The $498 million bond package addresses enrollment growth, facility equity and additions, technology, transportation and a second district sports facility. Building four new elementary schools, installing air conditioning in all school gymnasiums, replacing portable classrooms at four existing elementary schools and constructing another football stadium are just some of the projects under the 2007 bond.
"Families are attracted to North East ISD, and we will continue to grow by about 2,000 students a year," said Superintendent Richard A. Middleton. "We needed this bond package to continue the district's tradition of excellence that taxpayers have come to expect. I am pleased that our voters agreed."
The growth portion of the bond package for $157.5 million will build four new elementary schools and allocate funds to purchase land and complete design plans for another elementary school and middle school to be built under a future bond proposal. This portion of the bond was designed to help the district expand to accommodate the estimated growth of about 4,000 elementary students by 2012. Currently, NEISD has five schools already capped to new student enrollment because the existing facilities north of Loop 1604 cannot accept any more children.
The largest portion of the bond, about $249.5 million or 50 percent, will go toward facility equity and additions. This includes installing air conditioning at all elementary, middle and high school gymnasiums and replacing 96 portable classrooms with new building additions at four elementary schools. Several middle and high school campuses will receive additions or upgrades to their athletic and/or fine arts programs. Additionally, the North East Agriscience Magnet Program at Madison High School will receive a new facility, security gates and upgrades, and road improvements. Other facility projects include roof replacement at 11 campuses, maintenance upgrades at various campuses, kitchen upgrades at 15 campuses and some restroom renovations at Eisenhower Middle School and MacArthur High School.
The bond package also sets aside $52 million for the district's technology program. This money will purchase instructional technology such as classroom computers, teacher laptops, distance learning equipment, projectors and calculators. Technology infrastructure will also be funded, including security cameras for all elementary and middle schools, additional security cameras at high school campuses, networking upgrades, and software purchases and upgrades.
Purchasing 130 new school buses is also included in the bond package for close to $11 million. The purchases will be phased in over a three-year period.
Less than six percent of the bond package will fund the construction of a second district football/soccer stadium with track. With Johnson High School opening in 2008, scheduling will become more difficult at Blossom Athletic Center. Games will have to be scheduled on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, creating late school nights and hot September afternoons for players, band members, spirit groups, JROTC teams, parents and fans.
This bond package was developed and recommended by a Facility Study Committee of parents, taxpayers and community leaders. You can view the entire list of bond projects through the links on the right. If you have any questions, call Community Relations at 210-804-7090. The total costs provided by the district include construction design fees, site development costs, construction, project contingencies, and furniture, fixtures and equipment.