Round Rock ISD approves nearly $1B bond election
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The August 15 Round Rock ISD school board meeting ended with applause as members approved the largest proposed bond in district history with a five to two vote.
"I am very proud of the work that this board has done, and I look forward to this bond going up for a vote to our community so we can show what we truly value in this community," said Chuy Zárate, place 1 trustee.
Come November, residents in Round Rock ISD will vote on whether to borrow $998 million for school improvements.
"I will be advocating for this bond, and I think that it is critically important to our district," said Amber Feller Landrum, place 3 trustee and board president.
The bond is broken into four propositions.
What are the propositions on the Round Round ISD bond?
The first focuses on maintenance, and replacing things like AC, roofs, electrical, and plumbing.
The district also wants to purchase new buses and expand the Career and Technical Education programs for students.
Proposition A makes up the majority of the cost at $798.3 million.
"A new roof at a high school is $10 million," said Landrum. "We don't have that kind of money in money we get from the state. So, in order to build new facilities and to repair our existing facilities, we have to go out for bond money."
Proposition B would bring 125 million in technology upgrades to classrooms.
Proposition C sets aside more than 8 million for improving stage lighting and sound systems in the fine arts.
Last but not least, Proposition D would not only improve existing athletic facilities but construct a new multi-purpose one.
"I understand it looks like athletics are frivolous, but there are also academic implications because that means you have students on buses on Thursday nights, not just on Friday nights, crossing an entire district, which is 110 square miles to come to the west side," SAID Tiffanie Harrison, place 6 trustee and vice president of the board.
If passed, the district said the tax rate would not increase. Instead, the Interest and Sinking tax rate would decrease by a penny.
"Even if they pass it, they're still going to see a decrease in the INS tax which is unheard of," said Dr. Hafedh Azaiez, Round Rock ISD Superintendent.