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Bond 20232024-10-31T10:36:06-05:00

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Bond 2023 has 3 Areas of Focus

On August 15, 2023, Aldine ISD Trustees approved three bond referendums totaling $1.8 billion to be considered by the community in the November 7, 2023 election.
The school bond will focus on safety and security, facility enhancements, and instructional technology and is divided into three propositions that will fund major projects throughout the district.

  • Stand-alone facility for the Aldine ISD Police Department
  • Security enhancements including, but not limited to, fencing, lighting, and generators across campuses
  • Safety film across campuses
  • Districtwide Emergency Notification system

  • Required, proactive maintenance across campuses
  • System upgrades, including but not limited to, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
  • Ground-up development on new school buildings
  • Top-tier renovations to redesigned school buildings and campuses
  • New districtwide performing and visual arts facility

  • Student and staff device upgrades
  • Upgrades to classroom technology for future ready classrooms

Learn  more about the Bond 2023.

Projects by Campus
Tax Rate
Questions?
LRPC

Focus Areas

The 2023 school bond has three focuses: Safety and Security, Facility Enhancements, and Instructional Technology; It is divided into three propositions.

Taxpayers would not see a tax rate increase for the next three years.

$1,622,325,676

Proposition A covers campus rebuilds, campus redesigns and renovations, safety and security, facility improvements and high-priority maintenance, technology infrastructure, and transportation.

  • Campus rebuilds include Carver High School, Aldine High School, Aldine Middle School, Hambrick Middle School, Orange Grove Elementary School, and Odom Elementary School.
  • Campus redesign projects would take place at Eisenhower High School and MacArthur High School.
  • Campus Facility improvements and high-priority maintenance projects would entail the installation of digital marquees, life-cycle replacements (roofs, plumbing, and HVAC), science lab improvements, and athletic improvements.
  • Safety and security projects would include a dedicated district police department, updated security technology systems, safety film, site fencing, and lighting and emergency generators.
  • Technology infrastructure projects would include wireless network system updates (enhanced WiFi).
  • Transportation projects would include an East Transportation facility rebuild, purchases of new buses and special education buses, and a white fleet.

$67,547,500

Proposition B will cover instructional technology.

  • Instructional technology projects would include student and staff device refreshes (iPads, laptops, and Chromebooks) and classroom technology (interactive display panels).

$122,282,967

Proposition C will call for the construction of an Education and Performing Arts Center.

Total Bond Recommendation: $1,812,156,143

Bond2023 News and Updates

Aldine ISD Board Trustees Give Green-light to a Number of Bond Projects

By |November 5th, 2024|

Bond Oversight Committee at the October 28, 2024 meeting Aldine ISD is making district improvements as work is unfolding resulting from the district’s $1.8 billion bond voters approved in November 2023. A number [...]

Read More

Area Voters Approve all 3 Propositions in $1.8 Billion Aldine ISD Bond

By |November 8th, 2023|

Aldine voters overwhelmingly approved all three bond propositions totaling approximately $1.8 billion during the Nov. 7 election. It was the largest bond referendum in the history of Aldine ISD. Proposition A passed with 8,696 votes [...]

Read More

Aldine ISD’s Proposed Bond to Bring Technology Upgrades to All Students

By |November 7th, 2023|

On Tuesday, November 7, Aldine ISD voters will determine if the proposed bond referendum will pass within the Aldine school district. The bond has three separate focuses, and one of those focuses revolves around technology [...]

Read More

Updates

The Bond2023 Oversight Committee, an independent citizens’ group that is responsible to the Superintendent, Board, and the general public, monitors the progress of the district’s bond program, reviewing and ensuring that we follow the voter-approved bond programs and monitor the scope of work to ensure they are completed on time, with quality, and within budget. Below are the updates presented to the committee.

FAQs

A school bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for construction costs, renovations, and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations, order school buses, purchase land, and build new facilities.

School districts do not receive state funding to build schools, renovate facilities, or replace things like roofs, heating and air conditioning systems, or plumbing and electrical systems.

Texas law requires school districts to borrow money in the form of bonds to pay for construction, renovations, and equipment costs. A school district must receive voters’ approval to sell bonds (borrow money). Bond funds generally cannot be used for salaries, utilities, or other daily expenses.

Bond funds can be used to pay for construction, renovations, and equipment costs. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating expenses such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel, and insurance.

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors to raise the capital dollars needed for projects such as the renovation of existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the district to take out a loan and pay it back over an extended period, much like a family taking out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.

In November 2015, voters approved a $798 million bond proposal for the construction of new schools, renovations, enhancements, and repairs to meet the growth needs of the school district.

Before that, four additional bond proposals were passed:

  • 1992 — $77 million
  • 1997 — $84.3 million
  • 2000 — $115.8 million
  • 2007 — $365 million

Visit the Aldine ISD Bond 2023 webpage to see a breakdown of each proposition, detailed project descriptions, and what’s planned at each school.

In the spring of 2023, Aldine ISD convened a Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) composed of various district stakeholders, including teachers and campus staff, school leaders, parents, community members, students, and district administrators.

During several monthly workshops, the LRPC reviewed and analyzed the findings from a facilities assessment, along with other district data, including demographic studies, financial forecasts, city and county planning documents, and department audits, to plan for the community’s ever-changing needs.

Aldine ISD Board of Trustees and district leaders held a workshop on August 1 to further discuss a bond proposal based on the recommendations presented to them by the district’s Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) at their July meeting. On August 15, 2023, the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees called for a $1.8 billion bond election on November 7, 2023. The bond has three propositions that would fund a variety of projects throughout the district for voters to consider. The school bond package will focus on safety and security, facility enhancements, and instructional technology.

To learn more, visit the Aldine ISD LRPC webpage.

In 2022, Aldine ISD engaged Rice & Gardner to complete a Facilities Assessment Study and Educational Suitability Assessment for all district facilities and generate a Facility Condition Index (FCI) number to provide a benchmark to compare the condition of facilities. Reviewed systems included:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance
  • Architectural components
  • Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
  • Kitchen systems
  • Parking lots

The same year, an Educational Suitability Assessment (ESA) was completed for all District schools to indicate the degree to which the building’s physical educational environment supports student engagement and learning and staff instruction. The Educational Suitability Assessment answers questions such as:

  • Are classrooms suitably sized?
  • Does technology support the classroom activities?
  • Are a school’s administration, counseling/guidance, clinic, and faculty spaces suitable?
  • Are all spaces suitably lighted?
  • Are instructional and performance spaces acoustically adequate?

The findings indicated that:

  • 25% of schools are over 50 years old
  • $1.02 billion in current repair needs for all campuses
  • $2.7 billion in total repair needs over the next 10 years
  • 39% of schools scored below 70% for the ESA

The 2023 school bond has three focuses:

  • Safety and Security
  • Facility Enhancements
  • Instructional Technology

Bond 2023 is divided into three propositions:

Proposition A covers campus rebuilds, campus redesigns and renovations, safety and security, facility improvements and high-priority maintenance, technology infrastructure, and transportation at a cost of $1,622,325,676.

  • Campus rebuilds include Carver High School, Aldine High School, Hambrick Middle School, Orange Grove Elementary School, and Odom Elementary School.
  • Campus redesign projects would take place at Eisenhower High School and MacArthur High School.
  • Campus Facility improvements and high-priority maintenance projects would entail the installation of digital marquees, life-cycle replacements (roofs, plumbing, and HVAC), science lab improvements, and athletic improvements.
  • Safety and security projects include a dedicated district police department, updated security technology systems, safety film, site fencing, and lighting and emergency generators.
  • Technology infrastructure projects would include wireless network system updates (enhanced WiFi).
  • Transportation projects would include rebuilding the East Transportation facility, purchasing new buses and special education buses, and a white fleet.

Proposition B will cover instructional technology at a cost of $67,547,500.
Instructional technology projects would include student and staff device refreshes (iPads, laptops, and Chromebooks) and classroom technology (interactive display panels).

Proposition C will call for constructing a New Education and Performance Center at a cost of $122,282,967.

The bond planning process determines the estimated costs based on current product availability, supply chains, labor, and material costs that directly impact construction. These present market variables and projected future costs are then put into a construction-cost model to evaluate the anticipated expenses. The actual cost for each construction project can only be determined once the district completes the bidding process following Texas Education Agency standards and Texas law. Aldine ISD utilizes several different construction delivery methods (construction manager, construction manager at risk, and competitive sealed proposals) to ensure the best delivery method is applied to the right project to yield cost savings to the district and the taxpayer.

Proposition A addresses safety and security with about $60 million. Safety and security projects include a dedicated district police department, an emergency notification system, updated security technology systems, additional security cameras, safety film, fencing and lighting for each district facility, and emergency generators. Safety and security enhancements are included in various projects.

The Bond 2023 webpage shows the most current information and updates, including individual projects such as how each campus would benefit, renderings, a calendar of community meetings, a tax calculator, FAQs with information about voting, and a way to ask questions and receive answers.

Campus websites will also be updated to include how each school will benefit from the bond proposals.

The Aldine ISD Board of Trustees determines potential bond issues such as timing, structure, and content. The Board voted on Tuesday, August 15, to call for a bond election on November 7, 2023, for voters to consider the $1.8 billion bond package.

If Bond 2023’s propositions pass, Aldine ISD taxpayers will not see a tax rate increase for the next three years. The first planned rate change would come in 2026, and it would be 2 cents per $100 value, meaning a homeowner with a house appraised at $100,000 would see a $20 increase in their taxes beginning in 2026.

If the bond does not pass, the administration will likely recommend to the Board that a bond election be called in May 2024. If all the same projects are on that bond, the bond cost may increase due to the inflation rate for construction.

More importantly, the projects will be delayed, and the general fund may be needed to pay for repairs to buildings and/or the IT network at a time when our teachers are underpaid compared to other districts.

Finally, the district’s reputation may suffer. An unsuccessful bond may result in families looking elsewhere when relocating to Houston. It could also result in the district struggling to recruit and retain top talent such as teachers and education leaders. Both of which have the potential to impact property values.

Registered voters must live within the boundaries of Aldine ISD.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Registered voters can vote at any polling place in Harris County. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Early voting by personal appearance shall be conducted at the following times:

  • Monday, October 23 through Saturday, October 28, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 29, from noon to 7 p.m.
  • Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Many Aldine ISD campuses are polling locations. Making it convenient for you to vote right in your neighborhood.

Find out more at HarrisVotes.com.

Yes. Voters should record their vote in each of the three bond propositions on the ballot.

Not directly. The district cannot use bond funds for teacher pay. If Bond 2023 does not pass, and we have a major network breakdown, HVAC and roof repairs, etc., our district would have to rely on the general fund to cover those expenses. Again, the State of Texas does not provide school districts funding for these expenses.

We will ensure that teachers and students have a space to continue their work and that renovations occur with minimal disruption to student learning and daily operations. As plans are finalized, specific information will be shared with the communities impacted by Bond 2023 projects.

The Visual and Performing Arts Center will be the first project if all propositions pass. Work will also immediately begin at Carver High School and Aldine Middle School. Other rebuild projects will begin the planning phase. In contrast, others — such as the purchasing of buses and instructional technology — will take place throughout the lifecycle of Bond 2023.

The fine arts are a staple in a well-rounded education and complement the core subjects, nurturing creativity and self-expression. Approximately 50,000 students at all levels participate in fine arts programs, from dance to mariachi programs. Participation in the arts has been linked to improved cognitive and emotional development, and exposure to the arts can enrich students’ understanding of different cultures and perspectives, promoting tolerance and diversity of thought.

A state-of-the-art facility and a robust program can open doors to scholarships, careers, and personal growth. It also has the power to build engagement and bring the community together.

Additionally, this new facility will attract talent from other districts, ensuring our students have access to high-quality educators across the education spectrum.

No, bond funds were not used for this project. On June 14, 2022, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the use of $25M in FY 2022 and $25M in FY 2023 to cover the cost of replacing Thorne Stadium.

We welcome community feedback and encourage you to submit any questions or comments by visiting Aldine ISD Bond2023 Let’s Talk.

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