$332 MILLION BOND VOTE SET FOR PFLUGERVILLE SCHOOLS
Voters in the Pflugerville school district will decide on a $332 million school bond in November that if passed would fund construction on new schools, campus renovations and a slew of other projects.
The school board unanimously approved the bond election for Nov. 6. It would set aside $38.2 million and $40.9 million for two new elementary schools, $62.1 million for a new middle school and $16 million for land purchases and other growth-related expenditures.
A Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee met eight times beginning in April to assess and prioritize school district needs in light of growing student enrollment. The district’s demographer projected an additional 798 students are attending district schools this year, with 42 percent of those heading to elementary campuses.
Although the committee recommended a bond package totaling $326 million, the school board approved a slightly modified plan that included funding for additional classrooms at Delco Primary and Dessau Elementary schools.
Trustee and board secretary Mary Kimmins acknowledged the district would eventually need to build another elementary school, but she said “now was not the time to do it.” She also noted that expanding the Delco and Dessau campuses would help the rapidly growing southeastern part of the district.
Trustee Tony Hanson raised concern over the amount that would be spent on adding classrooms — about $500,000 each — and asked his colleagues if other options existed. Kimmins and Trustee Rob Reyes responded by saying that adding classrooms would be better for students and less expensive than other options — including the use of portables.
“I think all of our students deserve a healthy learning environment and a permanent solution,” Reyes said. “Additions are expensive, but it’s a lot less than having to build another school.”
The bond sets aside $14 million for the district to revamp its student transportation services, which district staff said should reduce costs.
Currently, the school district spends over $300 per student on transportation, whereas neighboring schools in Leander and Round Rock each spend less than $250 per student, district staff said.
Another $85 million in the bond funds would go to improving conditions at some of the district’s aging facilities. Targeted improvements would include increased accessibility, better playgrounds, fixes to drainage and paving at various campuses.
Technology would be another large area of investment. The bond would provide $24.3 million to be used on upgrading district-wide network systems, student computers and devices and classroom projectors.
The district’s high schools also would receive some improvements through the bond. Pflugerville and Hendrickson would receive agricultural science additions on campus, while Weiss would get an agricultural science building.
Pflugerville would also have its automotive tech garage renovated and Connally would have its culinary arts area expanded.
Several of the district’s middle and high schools would also get improvements to their fine arts spaces through $18.54 million included in the bond.
Voters last approved a bond in 2014, which district staff said is nearly paid off. That bond also added two elementary schools, as well as Weiss High School and the Pfield athletic compound.