Lamar Consolidated Independent School District officials detailed a nearly $2 billion bond package Monday as they described continuing, rapid enrollment growth and the need for new and expanded school facilities.

The presentation to the Fulshear City Council by Greg Buchanan, the district’s chief operations officer, outlined four principal propositions in the district’s 2025 bond program and said early voting has already begun; Election Day is Nov. 4.

Buchanan said the district’s enrollment rose from about 36,000 in May 2021 to almost 49,000 students today and that the growth shows no sign of slowing. “We have some strong growth,” Buchanan said. He described Prop A as the main construction package and said the total package is $1,980,000,000.

Why it matters: Rapid population and student growth in Fulshear and surrounding areas is driving immediate capacity needs for elementary and secondary schools, trade and career-technical space, transportation and technology infrastructure. The district said the bond would fund new school sites already secured under contract or purchase, additions at existing campuses and systemwide equipment and security upgrades.

Key points from the presentation:
- Prop A (major construction and land): Buchanan said the district is planning seven elementary schools (three opening in 2027, two in 2028, two in 2029) and multiple secondary campus projects, including Secondary Complex 8 under construction in Fulshear and a proposed Secondary Complex 9. He said the district has land under contract for all 13 campus sites listed in the proposal.
- Rebuilds and feeder adjustments: The bond would fund a two-phase rebuild of aging campuses including Terry High School, George Junior High and Navarro Middle School with phased moves beginning in 2029 and larger rebuilds by 2032.
- Prop B ($26.7 million): Stadium repairs and replacement of visitor/home bleachers, driven in part by current building-code requirements for restrooms and ADA access.
- Prop C ($44.1 million): Technology equipment refresh to replace roughly 50,000 devices that reach the end of their five-year useful life.
- Prop D ($10.6 million): An additional 11,000 devices to support a 1:1 in-classroom testing environment required by state testing rules; these are not take-home devices.
- Tax and ballot language: Buchanan and council members discussed ballot language required by state law that can appear to voters as a property tax increase even when the district’s board has voted to hold the tax rate level. Buchanan said the board voted Aug. 26 to keep the I&S (interest and sinking) tax rate level at $0.48 per $100 of assessed value under current assumptions; he noted that rising property values can result in higher bills even when the rate is unchanged. Buchanan said the district sought a legislative change to ballot language but the bill did not pass.

Buchanan also described operational details: portable buildings cost about $600,000 new and $300,000 to move; recent spending allowed the district to avoid purchasing new portables over the past three years; and bus and security system purchases are included in the bond.

The district provided a public website and materials with itemized project information and said voters may review details at lcisd.org and the district’s bond information portal.

Council members thanked Buchanan for the briefing and emphasized the city has no oversight role over the school bond; the presentation was informational.

Looking ahead: Early voting continues and the district’s election is Nov. 4. The council did not take any action related to the bond; the presentation was informational.