[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6268026,"mediaKeyId","3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200","parentId",3060101,"title","Victoria ISD officials outline more than $100 million in upcoming facility needs, ask board to form subcommittee","audioSeconds",4811,"startMs",3220000,"endMs",8031000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200&start=3220&end=8031","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200/thumbnail_3220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268026/Texas/Victoria-ISD-officials-outline-more-than-100-million-in-upcoming-facility-needs-ask-board-to-form-subcommittee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268026-c71b869b643d32846b421c326220c3db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606401&Signature=lIcCVBlq4rGTK8yVA6vMrPU3iTVYE~JNQMLp3TxLNqzFsvWjL0I3alXPsuSIXtDNM23-SLfDMqzQ0UsP8G9XSVohR2-qBETlppYvCy9Lo6-ZsDPkp~HFY5kevbeWj1T2n2CmcIZo8pP4Z09E5xO11fIotdNQBlLk~xPEAJDdysDgJ06Kok-OGvRSYZv9WVufLnb5ADmNp4ltELygqXoVsCeNCV5FXOJmnIF-hXlcnVkdyJHTPgtvp2YHQbiz2uldsXjmmm4AKpjMJqTR~91T3S7Llz5eWPP72lLXjoYeCWBAFAvdIOc8RIlUHNcr6Me2PUIIzmLwh85poQLvqL1uMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Victoria ISD","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","District administration told the Victoria Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 17 that the district faces large, near‑term costs to replace aging heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning systems, chillers and roofs across 29 district facilities, and asked the board to form a subcommittee to guide priorities and public outreach.

In a presentation, Randy Meyer, presenting for district administration, said the district used federal ESSER III funds to replace 136 HVAC units at a cost of $13,800,000 but that hundreds of other units remain aging and will need replacement in the next five to 20 years. “In our 29 district facilities, we have …” Meyer said, and later noted, “We were able to replace 136 units. That project was $13,800,000 that we as local taxpayers did not need to raise.”

Meyer framed facilities work as a multiyear, year‑by‑year planning problem rather than a single emergency fix. He gave counts and cost estimates: dozens of district HVAC units are past typical industry lifespans, 22 facilities have roofs 20 years or older, and district chillers (used in larger buildings and the aquatic center) are reaching or beyond their expected 20‑year lives. Meyer estimated roughly $61,000,000 to replace roofs currently 20+ years old and another $45,000,000 for roofs aged 15–19 years; chiller replacements vary by size but can cost several hundred thousand dollars apiece, and he cited a $2.5 million estimate to replace the Aquatic Center’s systems.

Meyer described tradeoffs the district has made to stretch limited funds: after bond referendums failed in 2017 and November 2021, administrators used reserve and operating funds to address urgent failures and deferred some pay increases and other expenses. He recommended developing and publishing a replacement schedule for every facility so the district and community can see what will come due in five, 10 and 20 years.

As next steps Meyer asked the board to form a facilities subcommittee, decide whether to use a community task force or a board‑driven priority process, and to consider timing for a potential maintenance bond. He described a draft timeline: form the subcommittee and community outreach in May, gather detailed cost data in June–July, and (if the board decides to call a bond) set an August deadline to place a measure on the November ballot. He noted a rough rule of thumb that a $50 million maintenance bond would cost roughly five cents on the local tax rate in current property‑value conditions, and that each penny of tax effort brings in about $10,000,000 under present values.

Board members and citizen‑oversight veterans urged early and active community engagement. Trustee Cathy Bell and others recommended replicating the Mission Valley bond oversight model that used a vetted citizen committee and frequent public communication; Meyer said administration could start an open application process now and bring nominations to the board in May for appointment. Trustees also discussed whether to wait until newly elected trustees are seated before forming long‑lived committees.

On a formal motion to create the facilities subcommittee, the board chose to postpone action so administration can prepare outreach materials and candidate applications; the chair moved to postpone indefinitely and the motion carried 6–0. The board also postponed a separate subcommittee vote on underused VISD properties, 6–0, while indicating the administration should proceed with preparatory work.

Meyer and trustees repeatedly emphasized that delayed, staggered replacement planning — rather than attempting to replace all systems at once — is the district’s preferred approach to avoid large simultaneous capital needs.

What’s next: administration will begin preparing a public brochure and an application process for citizen volunteers, provide the board with detailed replacement schedules and cost estimates through the summer, and return to the board with recommendations about committee structure and a bond timeline. The district said final decisions about bond size and tax strategy would rest with the board.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Victoria ISD Apr 17, 2025 School Board Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","District administration presented a master facilities plan saying multiple HVAC, chiller and roof systems are at or past industry lifespans and that replacing them could exceed $100 million; trustees asked administration to prepare community outreach and an application process before appointing a subcommittee.","taxTitle","VICTORIA ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14341,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6268016,"Superintendent outlines HB2 funding changes, special‑education formula work and new GEAR UP grant; administration reports $2 million in staffing savings",363,6632000,6995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200&start=6632&end=6995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200/thumbnail_6632000.jpg","/articles/6268016/Texas/Superintendent-outlines-HB2-funding-changes-specialeducation-formula-work-and-new-GEAR-UP-grant-administration-reports-2-million-in-staffing-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268016-103cce91ba557f1a3368edf9eb0d51e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606401&Signature=aELBPTIQhKiSkQFi9vwxSsDsNw0piJ1OK0L3pJNZgl1FL6eok5GcjPnBJ9BOkC6JvGh8jSIi7bNKFmtqvK7fdzsF2jAVI-gwzWj~mJhLrh2CK4ymHWzq36LsXmo423lDymJFU-~41exEAIAUYjHQ2AEuSaldZQK4y4ZQuqh8m8CFUNm6og3tvR6fvwfVNtD~-8mKuoYe28~BK5a6i2LSNI9rW5r7bPBctEfUhUUnlqEOwmbvhBH0Dbl0ihFL3dM9NokjUiEGXUaAX0QqvRBZBku1yU938AJMk-WgvPvem0F0967XX8JXkVy4kXVggPANMNAE5oj1kiWC77KlTw9cYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Collazo briefed the board on legislative changes, grants and staffing updates during the April 17 meeting.

Collazo said House Bill 2 passed the Texas House by 144‑4 and moved to the Senate. Using the district’s enrollment and attendance assumptions, she said the bill’s basic allotment changes could translate to an estimated $4.6 million in additional state funding for the district; she cautioned, however, that about 40% of that increase would be earmarked for teacher compensation under the bill’s draft language. “We’re looking at an estimate of about $4,600,000 basic allotment,” Collazo said, and the board discussed how much of any state increase would be available for local compensation decisions.

The superintendent also summarized proposed changes to special education funding: the Legislature is considering an intensity‑based model that would place students into weighted tiers and funding groups based on service intensity. Collazo said the proposal is still in development and that implementation details will affect local special‑education budgets.

On school safety funding, Collazo said per‑student allotments would increase under the bill (from $10 to $14 per student in the draft) and campus‑level safety funds would increase from $15,000 to $37,000 per campus; she estimated those changes together could yield roughly $600,000 in additional funding that could offset local safety contract costs.

Collazo also announced Victoria ISD received a GEAR UP grant that will serve students beginning in seventh grade and follow cohorts through their first year in college; Victoria College will serve as fiscal agent and the grant will support services at Patty Welder and STEM Bridal School. On staffing, Collazo said district rightsizing efforts have produced about $2,000,000 in projected savings; administration is reviewing which savings are from general versus grant funding and whether positions can be shifted to non‑supplanting federal grants.

Trustees praised student achievements and asked staff to keep the board informed as the legislative funding picture evolves. No formal action was taken on the legislative items; the board approved personnel hires presented in closed session later in the meeting.

","Superintendent Collazo told trustees that House Bill 2 passed the Texas House and could raise district revenues roughly $4.6 million under current enrollment assumptions, noted an evolving intensity‑based special education funding proposal, and announced a new GEAR UP grant and about $2 million in personnel savings from rightsizing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6268021,"Victoria ISD board approves one‑year MOU to educate Nursery ISD students; agreement could bring up to ~125 students",174,7578000,7752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200&start=7578&end=7752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3060101-0705ff1db9e4cd8cb0d42168df36c200/thumbnail_7578000.jpg","/articles/6268021/Texas/Victoria-ISD-board-approves-oneyear-MOU-to-educate-Nursery-ISD-students-agreement-could-bring-up-to-125-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268021-0ccb2866f011503d3234adb295cf4c1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775606401&Signature=TkHkgLyw2IFBXWE06hwwI7NAU00HWvCcfeAjp91JTmd2-TWQ55q2pU8e~8Yaung2gY3n5jYAIqI7C-2fHP1xG6ySb9AgCfAkZHe19Im7IGMDwfGnN2UG~Wi-uRig~VrYbtr2J2SIW0vPOJluGEPKa8YI7hV1xt8WlVfn8po9eZ4N-4SdnqTi9y8VpO1GMCpFNVOOC2oyPCcgMBbhbJgFVD1SRu78jGFk8AUBJggBJ1D1ZNbNm2PRwiDESbnH1SH~IHtZw1pcI-cw35Q~Hp31fWoZtcNekY~-i-~9tZJwhMCzvzPbr5Z9kMoyhTxrxM3uHxX~cgRhKSnL4NwhwLocpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Victoria Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 6–0 on April 17 to accept a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nursery Independent School District that will allow Nursery students in selected grades to enroll in VISD schools under a one‑year, renewable agreement.

District staff told trustees the original request discussed ninth through 12th grades but Nursery proposed expanding enrollment to include eighth grade as well. Nursery will pay tuition and transportation costs specified in the memorandum; students who enroll through the agreement will be VISD students and the funds generated will go to VISD. If Nursery secures buses, it will assume transportation; until then, Victoria ISD will provide transportation and be reimbursed by Nursery.

District staff estimated Nursery could have about 25 students per grade level and that the maximum number if all opted to enroll would be roughly 125 students. Parents may keep a student at their current district if they provide their own transportation, staff said.

Trustee Margaret Pruitt moved to accept the agreement; Trustee Mica Patton seconded the motion. The board approved the MOU 6–0.

","Trustees voted 6–0 to accept a one‑year memorandum of understanding with Nursery Independent School District for students to enroll as Victoria ISD students; Nursery ISD will pay tuition and transportation until it secures its own buses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Victoria ISD officials outline more than $100 million in upcoming facility needs, ask board to form subcommittee

Superintendent outlines HB2 funding changes, special‑education formula work and new GEAR UP grant; administration reports $2 million in staffing savings

Victoria ISD board approves one‑year MOU to educate Nursery ISD students; agreement could bring up to ~125 students