A Victoria ISD advisory committee recommended that the school board pursue a capital-improvement bond in May 2026, prioritizing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and roofs and asking the board to commission architect/engineer studies of two high‑priority campuses.

The recommendation, approved by the committee on a voice/hand‑raise vote, backed a target bond size the group discussed in the $31 million to $32 million range and included line items for a renovated 56‑classroom building to serve as temporary or flexible space, plus a smaller package of immediate maintenance projects for other campuses.

The committee’s work matters because district officials say routine state and local school funding largely covers payroll and operations, leaving capital repairs — new chillers, roof replacements and similar projects — to be financed separately by voter‑approved bonds. A district staff member told the meeting, “If you had a ship with a 100 holes and you had 3 giant patches, which 3 holes do you patch?” to illustrate limited funds and competing needs.

Discussion and priorities

Committee members spent more than two hours weighing options: a narrower maintenance bond focused strictly on HVAC and roofs; a broader “capital‑improvement” bond that could include renovation of underutilized district property; and the timing of a ballot measure. Several participants argued a smaller, clearly described early bond would be more palatable to voters, while others urged inclusion of visible projects that carry community attachment.

Among the cost figures discussed during the meeting were a $25 million maintenance baseline (the district’s maintenance department recommendation), a $7 million estimate to retrofit the unused 56‑classroom building at the STEM/old Victoria High School campus for near‑term use, and a $3 million line item that had been considered for demolishing Shields Elementary. One committee member outlined a hypothetical: “Instead of building a portable city that’s temporary, let’s take $10,000,000 and convert the 56‑classroom into the temporary so that when we’re done with it, we don’t have to haul up portables.”

The group also discussed larger scenarios — including building a new Shields Elementary at an estimated $45–50 million — but agreed those larger decisions require more time, detailed cost estimates and community engagement.

Requests to the board and next steps

The committee agreed to send several recommendations to the board: (1) pursue a May 2026 capital‑improvement bond and not place a bond on the November 2025 ballot; (2) commission architect/engineer assessments — with updated cost estimates — for STEM Middle School (the former Victoria High School/“56‑classroom” area) and Patty Welder campus to determine the full cost of a complete renovation rather than piecemeal repairs; and (3) ask the board’s zoning/underutilized‑facilities subgroup to develop rezoning scenarios that show how the district’s footprint might change (for example, consolidating elementary campuses) so the community can judge long‑term tradeoffs.

A district staff member summarized the practical constraint driving the timeline: “You’ve got to have the timeline — if you’re going to call a bond in February, you’ve got to have information in the fall.” The committee set internal dates for continued work: several members said they will present the recommendation to the school board at its regular meeting on July 17; the board will hold a workshop on July 31 and must act by its August 15 meeting if it intends to place an item on a future ballot.

Oversight and transparency

Committee members emphasized oversight and monthly reporting if a bond passes, citing the Mission Valley bond oversight model used previously. One participant noted the need to be explicit about what a maintenance/capital bond will cover so voters understand how money will be spent and to reduce confusion caused by past ballot language.

What the committee did not decide

The meeting produced no final board vote or precise project list; members explicitly deferred some larger proposals pending architect estimates and additional community input. The committee discussed — but did not finalize — whether to include demolition funds for Shields Elementary or to prioritize full campus renovations versus spot repairs. Several members also urged the committee to avoid “piecemeal” spending and, when feasible, fund full‑campus renovations so voters perceive concrete, complete outcomes.

Ending

The committee voted to present its recommendations to the Victoria ISD board at the July 17 meeting and requested the board authorize the further studies and timeline needed to support a May 2026 bond. Committee members said they will return to committee work this fall with updated cost estimates and zoning scenarios to inform the board’s decisions.