Note: This is an overview of some of the items on the August workshop and meeting agendas. This recap does not include every item on the agenda. Official meeting minutes will be made available on www.csisd.org following approval at the September board meeting. A video and audio recording of the meeting will be made available within seven business days of the meeting at csisd.org.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The College Station ISD Board of Trustees met Tuesday, August 15. The following discussions and actions are of note.
WORKSHOP
2021 Bond Update: Executive Director of Facilities Jon Hall gave the board an update on the projects associated with the 2021 bond package. In November of 2021, the voters of College Station approved three bond propositions totalling $78.13 million.
- Technology: Upgraded the district wide network, WiFi, network security, SMARTpanels in all classrooms (except the five most recently constructed schools), security vestibule technology upgrades, video security camera and server upgrades, and upgrades to audio/video for fine arts.
- Technology Devices: Purchased and deployed 3,000 new student laptops across all campuses, teacher laptops for all teachers, and upgrades to all core computer labs across the district.
- Southwood Valley Elementary: After phase 1 of renovations in the summer of 2022, phase 2 renovations were completed this summer. All classrooms and spaces have now been renovated with new paint, flooring, casework, and lighting. The exterior of SWV received extensive renovations with new windows and masonry on the front elevation.
- A&M Consolidated High School: As the largest renovation project in the 2021 bond package, the renovations will be done in four phases in the summers of 2022 through 2025, respectively. The focus is on renovating interior finishes such as carpet, hard flooring, paint, restrooms, doors, and casework for classrooms and public areas. The phase 2 projects completed this summer include auditorium and large-group instruction renovations, principal’s office suite renovations, and renovations to approximately 50% of the classrooms. Phase 3 in the summer of 2024 will include interior renovations for the rest of the building including choir, band and orchestra, while phase 4 will pick up any additional renovations or projects that have not been completed.
- Pebble Creek Elementary: Renovations focused on refreshing interior finishes such as carpet, hard flooring, restrooms, doors, and casework in the entire building. The old office area was converted to usable conference and break-out space. The project was completed over the summer.
- Career and Technical Education Center - Phase 1: Phase 1 of the Career and Technical Center is an agricultural barn for housing animals, along with parking and infrastructure. Work began in May 2023, with completion scheduled for May 2024. The project is currently at 18% completion.
- Natatorium Renovations: Work on the natatorium renovation began this summer and is scheduled to be completed in October. The scope of the project is the full renovation of the natatorium pool, pool deck, associated equipment, office space and locker rooms.
- Safety Improvements: Enhanced security vestibules have been completed in all elementary and intermediate schools, as well as at A&M Consolidated High School through this summer’s renovation project. The vestibules will be upgraded at the other two high schools and three middle schools after those projects are approved in September.
- Facility Maintenance Improvement Projects: Significant HVAC work has been done at College Station MS, A&M Consolidated MS, Forest Ridge, and Southwood Valley. The cafeteria flooring was removed and replaced at Oakwood, a significant water leak washout repair was completed at the A&M Consolidated MS cafeteria loading dock, and the roof was replaced at Forest Ridge. At A&M Consolidated HS, there were fire sprinkler head replacements and backflow preventer installation, along with roof repair.
Discussion related to the 2023-24 budget development process: Chief Financial Officer Amy Drozd provided information for the development of the 2023-24 budget.
Assumptions in the budget development process include an enrollment increase of 1.6 percent, and 17.35% increase in property values.
Due to HB3 from 2019 and the newly passed SB2, the CSISD maintenance and operations tax rate will be lowered 22.58 cents. The total CSISD tax rate will be 96.22 cents per $100 of valuation, which is 43.58 cents - or 31% - lower than the total rate in 2017.
The preliminary 2023-24 budget revenues are projected to be $144,291,445 and includes the increased expenditures for a two percent employee raise and inflationary items. The current projected revenue is approximately $1.7 million less than expenditures, with some expenditure amounts still pending.
The final budget and tax rate will be adopted in a special meeting on August 22.
MEETING
2023 Bond Election: The Board approved an order calling for a bond election for November 7, 2023.
This comes after a 48-member committee met six times in April and May, and ultimately recommended the board call a bond election for November 7, 2023, to include projects totaling $350.865 million. In the June, July and August workshops, the board received presentations and had discussions regarding the recommended projects for the 2023 bond package.
The tax impact for the issuance of $350.865 million in bonds is estimated to be a two-cent increase in the CSISD Interest and Sinking Tax Rate.
By law, CSISD will have four separate propositions on the November ballot.
PROPOSITION A: General ($284,975,000)
- Districtwide Safety - $5 million
- Renovations to Rock Prairie Elementary - $13.82 million
- A&M Consolidated HS Additions and Renovations - $50.751 million
- Phase II College Station HS Additions and Renovations - $62.256 million
- Phase II Career and Technical Education Center - $32.150 million
- College View HS Cosmetology Lab - $1.355 million
- Middle School Athletic Field Renovations - $13.160 million
- Central Office Additions and Renovations - $31.111 million
- Transportation - $11.245 million
- Technology Infrastructure - $14.127 million
- Facilities Maintenance Improvements - $45 million
- Land Acquisition - $5 million
PROPOSITION B: Technology Devices ($14,145,000)
PROPOSITION C: Football Stadiums ($38,475,000)
- Tiger Stadium Fieldhouse Additions and Renovations - $11.355 million
- Tiger Stadium Renovations - $20.100 million
- Cougar Stadium Renovations - $7.020 million
PROPOSITION D: Baseball/Softball Stadiums ($13,270,000)
More information regarding the 2023 bond proposal can be found on the district’s Long Range Facility and Bond Planning Website: LINK-LRFBP Website
Approval of Armed Security Officers: In the 88th Texas Legislative Session, HB 3 requires school districts to have Armed Security Officers at each campus, beginning in the 2023-24 school year.
For the 2023-24 school year, AMCHS & CSHS will each have two Brazos County Sheriff's Deputies, while College View HS and each middle school will have one deputy assigned. This is an increase of one deputy at each comprehensive high school, as compared to prior years.
After conferring with local law enforcement, the addition of deputies at each of our remaining 13 elementary and intermediate schools is not feasible due to a lack of available personnel.
CSISD intends to contract with TNT Security Solutions to provide armed security guards at each of our elementary and intermediate schools.
Purchases/Bid Approvals:
- Authorized the superintendent to renew insurance coverage for property and casualty, general liability, auto liability and physical damage, school leaders, underground storage and crime/fidelity of the 2023-24 fiscal year.
- Approved the renewal of PowerSchool products eSchoolPLUS, eFinancePLUS, Unified Home Communication, Schoology, TalentEd, Performance Matters and Unified Insights in the amount of $802,907.79 using the general fund and the instructional materials allotment.
- Approved the renewal of STEMscopes math resources from Accelerate Learning for three years in the amount of $73,783.80 using instructional materials allotment funds.
- Approved the renewal of Cardonex in the amount of $56,221 using ESSER III funds.
- Approved the renewal of districtwide identity access management maintenance and support with Hello ID in the amount of $77,710.20 using ESSER III funds.
- Approved the purchase and installation of a chiller for Forest Ridge Elementary from Entec in the amount of $124,748.25 using 2021 bond funds.
- Approved the contract for the retrofit renovation of an air handling unit at Rock Prairie Elementary from HTS Texas in the amount of $68,058 using 2021 bond funds.
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