A week before the Christmas holiday the SAISD Board of Trustees received an update from the District’s Facility Advisory Committee. The committee was made up of 60 members and stakeholders from the San Angelo community. It was formed to review and prioritize facility/capital improvement projects and provide guidance to the SAISD administration regarding a possible bond referendum to be held in May of 2025.
The committee held seven meetings starting on September 24, 2024. The last meeting was held December 5, 2024. Through the process the committee identified three priorities. The first was the safety of the children and educators. Second was lower taxes in the long run. Third, and most important was strong schools for a strong future.
Committee member Trey Holmes told the Board that the cost of all the District needs would be around $650,000,000.00. Committee Member Mary Castañuela presented the projects the committee identified and prioritized. The total estimated cost of the projects recommended by the committee is $402,695,000.00. According to the committee these improvements are projected to last 75 years.
The recommended projects include a new Glenn Middle School to be built on the existing campus site, adding access control, cameras and other security improvements including fencing and public address, replacing outdated HVAC systems and renovating some of the District’s athletic facilities.
The projects that were not approved or recommended by the committee were the Priority 2 projects: additions and renovations at Central High School, elementary “right-sizing” projects, kitchen and cafeteria replacements at Glenmore and Santa Rita Elementary Schools, a new pool at Central High School and building an indoor or partial outdoor athletic facility.
The work of the committee is now complete. Whether a bond election will be called is in the hands of the Board of Trustees. If the election is called it will take place on Saturday May 3, 2025, the same date as the upcoming school board election. Board President Dr. Taylor Kingman commented that as they moved forward the District would need administration to help the community see what the District would look like with these improvements, but also what the District would look like without these improvements. This was true particularly with relation to the current cost to do these projects as opposed to costs to do these if they are put off into the future. There was no discussion about the projected impact to SAISD tax payers if the bond is approved.
