The group of community members creating a future bond election proposal met in person to further slim down a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. 

After five subcommittees of about 150 community members recommended $1.5 billion in projects, the CFAC steering committee will propose $933.4 million in new construction, renovation, technology, and capital equipment. Now, the Board of Trustees will hear a presentation on June 17 from the CFAC members, possibly taking the recommendation to call a November 2021 bond election and to consider allocating $41 million from 2017 bond program savings. The school board has until Aug. 16 to call an election. 

The Citizens’ Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) went through $97.3 million of priority projects that address needs but not items specifically to add building capacity for new students or increase security. After hearing a detailed review of those projects, committee members ranked those projects to step closer to their final recommendation. 

Recap the committee’s work

Projects in the proposal

The proposal will include projects to address growth, with 7,814 new students by 2026, technology enhancement, and renovations to older schools.

Elementary Schools

  • Building five new elementary schools.
  • Renovating and capital improvements at Bagdad, Block House Creek, Bush, Cox, Cypress, Deer Creek, Faubion, Giddens, Knowles, Mason, Nauman, Plain, Pleasant Hill, Rutledge, Steiner Ranch, Whitestone, and Winkley.
  • Expanding and improving all elementary school playgrounds.

Middle Schools

  • Building one new middle school.
  • Renovating and making capital improvements at Cedar Park, Canyon Ridge, Henry, Leander, and Running Brushy.

High Schools

  • Constructing a new building for New Hope High School, the district’s current alternative high school for credit acceleration and recovery, an Early College High School, and one additional school of choice, high schools offering students a small, specialized program. Building these new buildings will delay the need for a seventh comprehensive high school. 
  • Constructing a new building for the district’s 18+ transition services program, serving students who qualify for special education services after high school graduation.
  • Renovating and making capital improvements at Leander, Cedar Park, and Vista Ridge high schools.
  • Replacing old instruments for high school band programs.

Ancillary Services

  • Building a new bus terminal facility in the southern part of the district to reduce fuel and vehicle costs by $435,000 per year.
  • Adding, renovating, and installing secure vestibules at district facilities, including both transportation facilities, administration building and annex, support services building, technology building, and the LEO Center.

Technology

  • Replacing classroom projectors with interactive panels to create more instructional space and increase functionality. 
  • Refreshing student, teacher, and staff technology devices, including laptops.
  • Updating network infrastructure to improve internet access.

Tech as a separate proposition

After a recent law change, school districts seeking a bond election item need to place some technology items on a separate proposition. Other elements on the ballot will look different then previous bond elections, in complying with new laws. 

In order to fund the level of construction and large projects needed, Leander ISD would need to pass a bond election, where voters authorize the district to borrow money to pay for capital expenses.