PITTSBURG, Texas (KETK) – After failing to pass the first two times, the Pittsburg Independent School District is hoping a bond proposal passes to give multiple campuses major upgrades. Sulphur Springs talks economy following Total Solar Eclipse On May 4, voters will decide whether to approve Pittsburg ISD’s $93.8 million bond proposal. “Hopefully that can be done and help our kids in a positive way,” Pittsburg ISD superintendent Terry Waldrep, said. The bond is divided into two propositions. On Tuesday, school officials showed residents the work they are planning for their middle school students. view article

With New Braunfels ISD’s upcoming $313 million bond election in May, voters will determine if the district’s new Long Creek High School will have its own stadium and whether to approve phase two of New Braunfels High School’s reconstruction. The board of trustees called the bond election during the February board meeting. The $313 million bond is split into three propositions. Proposition A includes phase two of the New Braunfels High School replacement, school safety and security projects, an upgraded agricultural sciences facility and more. The total cost for Proposition A is about $267 million. view article

On April 9, Spring ISD trustees voted to create a community survey for a possible voter-approval tax rate election ballot initiative, or VATRE, that would be held in November if called.   What’s happening  As SISD faces a $25 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25, trustees discussed the possible November VATRE for the second time April 9. Trustees voted 6-1—with board Secretary Kelly P. Hodges dissenting—in favor of ordering a community survey.  The survey is expected to cost $21,000-$28,000, Chief Financial Officer Ann Westbrooks said April 4, and the results should be available in May. The cost of holding a VATRE would be about $200,000, but SISD would be required to pay that cost anyway if any trustees up for election in November are opposed, Westbrooks said. view article

Kaufman Independent School District is pushing for a bond that would cost taxpayers more than $387 million when factoring in interest. It is a significant jump from the $170 million that voters will see on the ballot, which does not factor in estimated principal and interest debt. Kaufman ISD is specifically seeking funds for district-wide security projects, such as security camera upgrades, security film, and security fencing. The district would also like to add classrooms to its aging Helen Edwards Early Childhood Center, which it claims is “at functional capacity,” and a new agricultural barn for Career & Technical Education Classes. view article

As Round Rock ISD continues the process of creating its budget for the 2024-25 budget year, administrators are proposing a 1% general pay increase for all employees, as well as a bonus tied to the district's student enrollment. What you need to know The district has informed the community that some budget cuts are imminent, with a projected shortfall of about $30 million for the 2024-25 school year. However, district administrators said this will not preclude them from including a small pay bump for employees in proposals for the budget, in order to retain employees. In a proposal for the district's compensation plan in the upcoming year, administrators are recommending the board of trustees approve a 1% increase, with some adjustments to the overall pay structure, as well as an employee bonus if enrollment jumps ahead of projections shared in March. view article

Liberty Hill ISD will open a shared space for its Success Academy and new disciplinary program in a portable building at Liberty Hill High School next school year. The board of trustees approved around $636,000 in funding for the portable building at an April 15 meeting following an overview of the new facility by Chief of Schools Travis Motal. view article

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KETK) – Harts Bluff Independent School District said five bond propositions, equaling a total of $19.1 million, will be on the May ballot to fund facility expansions.  $3 million scratch ticket sold in Palestine  According to the school district, if all the propositions are approved the total tax impact will be 40 cents. view article

GRAHAM, Texas (KAUZ) - We continue our coverage of school bonds across Texoma by spotlighting the Graham ISD 2024 bond, totaling $38 million.  This bond is split into two propositions after one proposed last year failed.  A large focus will be Proposition A, which will consolidate the three elementary schools down to two, all while providing safety and security upgrades as well. Proposition B, is on an indoor multipurpose facility, that will not only benefit Graham ISD students but also some community organizations. view article

Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live. A conversation happened Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. view article

Killeen school board hires architect for new HQ building The actual request for this work is a modification to the existing “Standard Form of Agreement” between KISD as the owner and Huckabee, dated Oct. 1, 2020. The “Task Request” approved by the board Tuesday includes only architectural and engineering services to provide a plan for the interior of the building — a point Board President Brett Williams expressed during discussion with Adam Rich, KISD’s assistant superintendent for facilities services. view article

On May 4, voters in Central ISD will have the opportunity to vote on a $28.4 million school bond. “A bond for Central ISD would allow for program and academic opportunities, increase the safety and security measures and allow for growth for our students and programs,” said Justin Risner, Central ISD superintendent. Risner also said school officials hope to create a new intermediate campus if the bond passes. Currently, the elementary campus includes 661 students with two administrators. After the creation of an ‘intermediate campus, the number would be reduced to 550 students, Risner said. The junior high would average 333 students with two administrators after the passage of a bond. According to Risner, the average enrollment for K-12 is 111 students per grade level. view article

Argyle ISD's proposed bond features new school and facility construction, capacity improvements, land acquisition, and technology refreshes. Argyle ISD had 2,460 students and four campuses. By August it will exceed 5,800 students and open its seventh campus. In 10 years, AISD could serve nearly 11,000 students, per district data. The rapid growth carved a need for additional instructional space, prompting the district to put a $511.5 million bond before voters this May with three propositions addressing the issue. If approved, the bond would not increase the tax rate. view article

Some Copperas Cove ISD students may be coming home with fact sheet flyers about the upcoming $175 million school bond issue on the May 4 ballot. Kurtis Quillin, the district’s spokesman, said the flyers were vetted and deemed OK for distribution by the district’s bond lawyer. The flyers, which are the same as the ones on tables at the State of the District in March, lay out a breakdown of where the dollars for the bond would go. The largest portion would go to Copperas Cove High School renovations should the bond pass. view article

On May 4, voters in Central ISD will have the opportunity to vote on a $28.4 million school bond. “A bond for Central ISD would allow for program and academic opportunities, increase the safety and security measures and allow for growth for our students and programs,” said Justin Risner, Central ISD superintendent. Risner also said school officials hope to create a new intermediate campus if the bond passes. Currently, the elementary campus includes 661 students with two administrators. After the creation of an ‘intermediate campus, the number would be reduced to 550 students, Risner said. view article

College Station ISD has two bonds on the ballot in May’s election, the same bonds voters rejected in November. But Brandon Schmidt, athletic coordinator at A&M Consolidated High School, said it’s not just about athletics, it’s also about correcting an equity issue. There is one girl’s bathroom in the fieldhouse at Consol. It’s the only space available for female athletes to change and store their items at the fieldhouse. Girls are then left to either change at the main campus, wait for space in the bathroom or use a converted storage room underneath the stadium bleachers. That space is also utilized by boys soccer during home games. view article

FORESTBURG (KFDX/KJTL) — Since rebuilding the school in 1996, Forestburg ISD has not seen any upgrades and has failed to pass three bonds since its reopening. view article

Cedar Park High School is expected to see an increase in enrollment over the next few years based on new attendance zones for next school year.  What happened: Leander ISD officials discussed how rezoning will affect middle and high school enrollment in light of recent demographic data at a March 28 board of trustees meeting. Some board members expressed concerns about how modernization work would affect Cedar Park High School as enrollment expands. view article

About 40 citizens attended a town hall last Thursday, March 28, to learn more about Clarendon CISD’s $11.7 million bond election coming up on the May 4 ballot. Superintendent Jarod Bellar welcomed those in attendance and said whether they were for or against the bond or just wanted more information, he appreciated them taking the time to be there. He then went over several accomplishments that Clarendon CISD students have had academically and in a wide range of competitions. On May’s ballot, Proposition A will seek $1.8 million for safety and security upgrades and the school as well as two new buses. Proposition B would fund $6.9 million in improvements at Bronco Stadium including accessibility improvements, new home and visitor bleachers, a new press box, and $3.3 to 3.5 million for a new field house and to renovate restrooms and the concession stand. Proposition C would provide $3 million for a new vocational ag building. Bellar addressed each proposition briefly. He said the security improvements to the high school are to control access to the building but said the school does not yet know what that will look like. He said the field house and the ag building were both built in 1961 and need improvements. He also noted that Proposition C was broken out of Proposition A so that landowners who had expressed concerns at earlier meetings would know their voices had been heard. Improvements to the stadium, by law according to the seating capacity of the stadium, had to be a separate proposition. view article

In the southern portion of the district, LISD is seeing its student population decline, Gearing said. At a March 7 meeting, the board of trustees discussed opening enrollment to students outside of LISD at its central and southern schools as some campuses are being underutilized, district officials said. An October demographic update showed some central and southern campuses are projected to lose students over the next decade. view article

Elgin ISD has broken ground on its fifth elementary school. Trinity Ranch Elementary will be located off Grist Mill Lane and Upper Elgin River Road, just south of U.S. 290. Construction is now underway. Funding for the school is coming from a bond voters approved in 2021 that included funds for two new elementary schools. It's expected to cost about $39 million to build. view article

Rivercrest ISD trustees have called a $23 million dollar bond issue election Money raised will fund improvements to the district’s facilities. The election will be held May 4 with early voting with early voting April 22 to 30. view article

Lewisville ISD voters will reconsider funding for athletic-focused projects during the May bond election. The $101.8 million package features three propositions that would generate additional funding to conduct maintenance, repairs and renovations at various athletics and recreation facilities across the district. If voters approve all three propositions, there will be no increase to the tax rate, according to bond details. view article

Sherman ISD has been working to design a new multipurpose stadium for Sherman High School since the fall of last year. After cost estimates came in the district said it will need to make adjustments to keep the project on track, and it is working with the architect and general contractor to explore cost saving options that will keep the desired design elements. view article

Denton ISD, which is dealing with the budget cuts that are plaguing school districts across the state, said it is postponing plans to open a new elementary school. It also announced it is closing dozens of vacant positions. Denton ISD’s superintendent told FOX 4 Thursday "the reality is that we can no longer do more with less." view article

Crowley ISD Superintendent Michael McFarland started a chant as he kicked off a 2023 bond discussion. “Can you repeat after me? Promises made,” McFarland said, letting his words trail.“Promises made,” the audience gathered in the school board meeting room echoed the district’s leader. “Promises kept,” McFarland said, the audience repeating after him. view article

Sivells Bend ISD could overhaul its campus soon, should voters agree to pay for it. The Sivells Bend ISD board voted in February for a $19.9 million bond election to be held on May 4, 2024. If approved by the voters, the bond will address facility improvements throughout the district, including: view article

The Navasota bond totals $74 million and residents zoned for Navasota ISD will vote on the bond in the May election. Navasota ISD superintendent, Dr. Stu Musick, says he hopes voters will help the district prepare for the future. “With more growth coming throughout all of Navasota ISD both to the northwest side in Brazos County as well as to the southeast part of Grimes County as well,” said Musick. view article

Two College Station ISD bond propositions will appear on voters’ ballots in May. Both packages feature propositions near-identical to those voters struck down in the November 2023 general election. The district is looking at additions and renovations to its athletic complex and facilities, which it calls “functional, safe and cost-effective spaces for students”. The first bond, Proposition A, will address the district’s two high school athletic stadiums and A&M Consolidated’s Field House, with plans to expand seating and renovate Consolidated’s fieldhouse, where the district hopes to add new classrooms and expand the weight room. A separate proposition would include replacing the grass baseball and softball fields at A&M Consolidated and College Station High School with turf and adding LED lights. view article

Arlington ISD is preparing for the area to reach its full capacity of homes. The district’s board of trustees unanimously approved, 7-0, a $5.6 million sale of a 15-acre property in Grand Prairie at its March 21 board meeting. The property was intended for a new elementary school, but the district decided against it as residential development in the area has slowed, according to the district’s document. view article

Construction is moving along on three major construction projects in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. The school board received an update March 25 on the progress of Eagle Mountain High School and the replacement of Wayside Middle School. view article

The Conroe ISD board of trustees discussed how to create more transparency in its book review process during a March 19 board meeting. What happened Trustee Stacey Chase requested discussion on the complaint process for parents who want to weigh in on decisions that were made to remove library books and instructional material. Chase said she has been contacted by parents wanting to know what recourse they had if they objected to the challenged books that were removed. "If you want to challenge a book, you have the formal reconsideration ... where it goes to reconsideration committee, appealed and then to the board," she said. "The other way to challenge a book is through the informal reconsideration, which consists of sending an email saying, 'Please look at this book. I don't agree with this book,' and then the district has 10 days to respond." view article

COPPERAS COVE — As voters in Copperas Cove mull over how to vote on an upcoming $175 million bond proposal for the school district, the common opposition from prospective voters is that the proposal should’ve included a new high school rather than renovations to the current one. The election to approve or disapprove the bond is May 4. Copperas Cove Independent School District Superintendent Joe Burns, however, said in an interview with the Herald on Friday that a new high school is not a feasible option as the school district currently sits. view article

Whitesboro ISD is holding a town hall meeting Monday night to discuss its upcoming school bond election. The district is asking voters to approve two bonds that total $118,000,000. Proposition A includes an early childhood center, an addition to the high school auditorium, a career and tech addition, an agri-sciene arena, safety renovations and security/bus upgrades. The proposition asks for $100,000,000. view article

Lorena ISD will soon be looking for the public's approval of a nearly $39 million bond proposal that would tackle structural renovations, additions and enhancements to campuses, according to the district. Proposition A, which comes out to $37.6 million, would help address elementary school growth numbers. view article

Former Superintendent Duncan Klussmann’s name will remain on the Spring Branch Educational Center, the board voted unanimously Monday, after hearing copious community feedback against their proposal to remove his name from the building. More than 40 people spoke at the public hearing asking the board not to remove the name of the now University of Houston assistant professor, many of whom wore red or pink in solidarity. Before the meeting, a petition to keep his name on the building was submitted to the board with over 600 signatures. view article