Spring ISD considers $300 million bond

Proposal would fund projects such as a new high school and football stadium

The Spring Independent School District is gauging support from parents and constituents on a proposed $300 million bond package that could add a new high school, police headquarters, a new football stadium and several new early childhood campuses throughout the district.

Mark Miranda, Spring ISD’s chief of operations, provided the board of trustees with a district needs assessment, based on the age of some facilities, and current and projected growth.

“We have a steady growth,” Miranda said. “This isn’t a large growth like some of our neighboring districts are seeing.”

According to a demographic study conducted last year, nearly every middle school and high school campus in Spring ISD is at or near its full utilization capacity.

For instance, Spring High School, which has a capacity

for 2,500 students, had a 110.7 percent utilization for 2015-16 and a student population of 2,768.

Westfield High School, which was also built to hold 2,500 students, had the highest utilization rate among the high schools at 113.4 percent and had 2,835 students in 2015-16.

Overall, Spring ISD high schools, which were built for a capacity of 9,400 students, had a high school population of 10,045 students.

The populations at the seven Spring ISD middle schools, though not as tight, are also approaching full capacity.

Spring ISD middle schools have a capacity of 8,261 students, and had just 7,940 on campuses in 201516, partly because Dueitt Middle School, which has capacity for 1,200 students, had a utilization of 74.9 percent and had less than 900 enrolled this past school year.

By comparison, Wells Middle School had a 109.5 percent utilization, and had 1,314 students on campus this past school year.

“Five years from now, the middle schools could be 500 students over capacity,” Miranda said. “That is a possibility.”

The last time voters in Spring ISD passed a bond was in May 2007.

The total cost of the bond package was $280 million and included six new elementary schools, a replacement school for Bammel Elementary, an addition and renovation at Link Elementary, a new warehouse and child nutrition facility, a new transportation and maintenance facility, buses, technology infrastructure, safety and security, egress and accessibility at existing facilities, renovation of the Spring High auditorium, capital improvements at other existing facilities, turf replacement at Leonard George Stadium, and land and a design for a fourth comprehensive high school.

If voters were to approve the anticipated $300 million package, the district could not only build needed facilities, but possibly update safety and security features, enhance technology district wide, and upgrade the transportation fleet.

In May, the district conducted a voter survey and polled 400 residents in Spring ISD to determine if a bond would be viewed as a favorable option.

“It was critically important to (gather) data to help the board understand community support for a bond referendum,” said Tiffany Davila-Dunne, Spring ISD’s chief communications officer.

The survey, which was conducted by Austinbased Baselice and Associates, indicated that 51 percent of residents would vote in favor of the bond, with 25 percent of those strongly in favor.

By comparison, 34 percent of the residents indicated they would not support a bond, while 15 percent were still undecided or unsure.

The margin of error was plus or minus 4.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the board and administrators also have to consider the district’s finances and determine whether or not a bond could be feasible.

“Over the past 10 years, Spring ISD went through a considerable amount of growth, and during that time period, when we were growing 6 percent per year, we built several facilities, and we acquired quite a bit of debt…,” said Spring ISD Finance Director Ann Westbrooks

The current district tax rate is $1.47 per $100 valuation, so residents with a home valued at $200,000 paid just over $2,500 this year.

However, if the district does pursue a new bond referendum, the total tax rate will likely increase to $1.52 per $100 valuation and residents would see their taxes increase by about $90.

The board of trustees would likely consider calling for the creation of a bond and facilities study committee before voting to call for a bond election.

The board is expected to revisit this issue in the fall.