Co-chairs of the Citizens Bond Committee updated trustees on June 18 regarding the group’s work to date as the board determines whether the district should call for a November bond.

The CBC recommended that trustees call for a November bond and limit the total bond amount to no more than $1.25 billion so there would be no increase to the district’s I&S tax rate.

The total cost of the draft of proposed bond projects is $1.13 billion. It includes technology and safety upgrades throughout the district and funds that could address deferred maintenance projects such as roof repairs.

Co-chair Lindsey Ledyard said the group arrived at the current draft through months of hard work and careful consideration.

“This number, while there are a lot of digits in there, is between $1 [billion] and $1.25 billion,” she said. “The committee worked really, really hard to try to whittle down these project lists. Landing at this number has been through multiple iterations.”

Any bond called for by the board would be divided among several propositions and could include separate propositions for technology or athletics.

Projects included in the CBC’s draft presentation to the board:

  • Deferred maintenance (e.g., ADA improvements, furniture replacement, new kitchen generators, new buses, upgrading marquees to digital) – $553 million
  • Districtwide technology upgrades and replacements (e.g., Chromebooks, teacher computers, cafeteria devices) – $149 million
  • Fine arts and athletics – $138 million
  • Districtwide CTE facility – $124 million
  • Districtwide safety and security – $62 million
  • Growth projects (e.g., classroom expansions and conversions, portable refresh/removal) – $56.6 million (Priority 1 items), $33.2 million (Priority 2 and 3 items)

Board Vice President Tiffanie Harrison was grateful for the group’s extensive work.

“It does feel and seem, from what I’ve been hearing, there’s solidarity in moving forward and making sure that these are all our students, so I would love to continue on that trajectory,”
Harrison said.

Trustees questioned the committee co-chairs on items such as the level of involvement from campuses and principals, the effect a bond may have on taxpayers, and how much detail will be included in the final report.

Ledyard assured trustees that the final report will accompany a thorough list of projects and costs.

“You will get all of the details. We’ve created a template that each subcommittee is filling out that has every project delineated, each campus that’s touched… it’s a beautiful spreadsheet. You will have a detailed project list when you get that final report that you can comb through.”

Next steps: The board will receive the final CBC report in early July and hold a public workshop later in the month.

President Landrum: “I know that this was a huge undertaking and the number of hours you guys put into thoughtfully and thoroughly examining the projects and the needs of the district, I really appreciate that.”