The audit was conducted following revelations of a $133 million gap between the amount voters approved and the cost of the bond.  A new audit has revealed failures in the Fort Bend ISD 2022 bond planning. In February, Fort Bend ISD’s board of trustees received a report from the administration detailing a $133 million gap between the amount approved by voters, $1.2 billion, and the total cost of bond projects.  At the time, the district’s deputy superintendent said they would begin a review and that the number could still go up or down. He attributed the shortfall to miscommunication between staff and the construction team, cost overruns, and overall poor planning. view article

Elgin is in the middle of the Texas Triangle formed by the state's biggest cities ranging from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio and Houston. Superintendent Dr. Jana Rueter says it is attracting more families to Elgin ISD. "We are now considered the second fastest growing school district in Central Texas," Rueter said. view article

Early voting has kicked off this week ahead of the May 4 election, and Longview ISD has one of the hottest items on the ballot. The district is asking voters to pass a more than $450 million bond proposal. "This is really not just about facilities this election, it’s about how do we answer the question of “how do we spend funds as a district," Wayne Guidry, assistant superintendent of finance at Longview ISD, said. view article

Voters in Kaufman ISD, located just 45 minutes southeast of Dallas, will consider a $171 million bond to improve safety and security and create more space to address aging facilities. The district is expected to reach over 5,000 students in five years. Kaufman County is the second-fastest growing county in the United States. Enrollment has increased by almost 10% over the last three years, according to the district. view article

If the upcoming bond package passes, the district's debt load--including interest--could swell to nearly a billion dollars. view article

Early voting begins on Monday for Proposition A in Alice Independent School District. School officials said voters will have the chance to decide on a $38 million bond. The bond would go to building a new stadium and adding new lights to the baseball and softball facilities. There are multiple changes that could come if the bond is approved by voters. view article

The Buckholts Independent School District held a bond information night on Thursday after the district’s board of trustees called for an over $11 million bond in the upcoming May 2024 election. The district says the $11.145 million bond proposal is expected to add a new middle school to the high school, convert the current middle school into an elementary school and help with significant renovations to all campuses. view article

Residents are also being asked to approve a $950 million bond in the county’s first water district. 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. In addition, Kaufman ISD wants to construct a new campus for Norman Junior High School, which is currently at capacity, to serve 1,200 students. view article

While the district hasn’t said how much a proposed bond would cost, a local paper reported that a recent estimate was for between $3.5 and $5 billion.  Houston ISD’s appointed board of managers signaled the district’s intention to move forward with a multi-billion dollar bond package this November.   At its recent board meeting, the board members voted to allow Superintendent Mike Miles and his administration to use district resources that would be refunded to the general fund by future bond proceeds and to begin developing a November 2024 bond package.  view article

The Buckholts Independent School District held a bond information night on Thursday after the district’s board of trustees called for an over $11 million bond in the upcoming May 2024 election. The district says the $11.145 million bond proposal is expected to add a new middle school to the high school, convert the current middle school into an elementary school and help with significant renovations to all campuses. view article

The future home of Port Arthur Independent School District’s Support Center is abuzz with activity as crews transform the former Catholic high school and health center at 9th Avenue and Texas 73. The $13.1 million building project at 3601 Texas 73 is going to host a multitude of district services in one central location. They include maintenance, transportation, records, custodial, police, shipping and receiving, technology, instructional materials and a print shop, according to Phyllis Geans, assistant superintendent of operations. view article

“We went back to the community and you know we obviously, we still have needs that we need to address and we want to listen to the community,” said Superintendent Terry Waldrep about calling for another bond. view article

"I just think it's a really good way to invest in our community and our kids,” said McGregor resident Stephanie Thompson. Investing in the kids — it's something McGregor ISD is aiming to do. The district is proposing an $82 million bond. view article

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