The Eanes school board will host a series of community meetings this year to consider placing a $130 million to $150 million bond proposition before voters next year.
A 2023 bond will look similar to Eanes’ 2019 bond and will contain projects under the same categories, said Jeremy Trimble, the district’sassistant superintendent of operations and planning. In May 2019, 83% of Eanes voters approved an $80 million bond, which funded the construction of aquatics, robotics and wrestling facilities as well as upgrades for campus security, buildings, buses and student programs.
Project categories for the 2023 bond would be safety and security, energy efficiency and conservation, student programs and support, and facilities.
According to a presentation from a meeting of the district’s Bond Advisory Committee on Aug. 23, examples of safety and security projectswould include additional security cameras district-wide and fire alarm system upgrades. Energy efficiency and conservation projects would include solar installations onroofs, improved lighting for sports fields and window replacements. Student programs and support projects would include improving fine arts, athletics and performing arts programs, upgrades to technology and libraries, and replacing furniture and buses. Examples of facilities projects would include campus refurbishments, electrical upgrades, and replacing HVAC, roofing, playgrounds and fields.
Trimble said that May or November 2023 were the two options to have a bond election, and the Bond Advisory Committee recommended May for several reasons.
“We wanted to give our recommendation on where we believe the bond would best suit our needs as a district,” Trimble said. “There’s going to be a new legislative session, and we’re almost certain that there’s going to be even more requirements surrounding school districts. … That’s an obstacle that we anticipate. That would impact a November bond. It wouldn’t affect a May bond.”
Texas’ 88th legislative session is set to run from Jan. 10 to May 29, 2023. Trimble said having the bond election in May could prevent any obstacles created by new legislation passed during the session.
Trimble said a May 2023 election date also would allow for projects funded by the bond to be completed by summer 2024. A November 2023 election date, he said, would result in completed projects by summer 2025. Holding the election in May instead of November would help prevent the costs of the projects from rising, Trimble said.
The Bond Advisory Committee will begin developing costs for the bond based on a May 2023 election date, Trimble said.
The committee, which is comprised of both Eanes faculty and community members, will begin meeting monthly to discuss projects under different categories of the bond. Trimble said the meetings will be open and attendees will be able to have discussions with the panel.
The district set the following tentative schedule for the bond meetings:
∎ Sept. 27: The first meeting will focus on projects under the safety and security category. The committee will present its recommendations for projects to the school board in a meeting on Oct. 4.
∎ Oct. 11: The committee will discuss projects under the energy efficiency and conservation category and present recommendations to the school board in a meeting on Oct. 18.
∎ Nov. 8, the committee will discuss projects under the facilities category, and meet with the school board on Nov. 29.
∎ Dec. 6, the committee will discuss projects under the student programs and support category and meet with the school board on Dec. 13.
∎ Jan. 3: The Bond Advisory Committee will have a final meeting. The school board will conduct a ballot review on Jan. 10, with the committee’s final report to the school board on Jan. 12.
On Feb. 7, 2023, the school board will vote on whether or not to call for a bond election. Based on that timeline, the election would take place on May 6.
Chief Communications Officer Claudia McWhorter said the district will invite participation from the community.
“We will continue to push out information via email, website, campus newsletters and social media,” McWhorter said.
