San Angelo ISD board votes 7-0 to call $397 million bond election for May 3, 2025

The San Angelo Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to call a single‑proposition bond election for May 3, 2025, asking voters to approve $397,000,000 for new construction, campus renovations, security upgrades and deferred maintenance.

The bond order was moved by Dr. Kamen and seconded by Dr. Mills; the motion passed unanimously. The administration and facility advisory committee developed the recommendation after months of facility reviews and community meetings.

The board and administration said the proposal responds to aging buildings, deferred maintenance and program needs across the district. Dr. Moran, who presented the facility overview to trustees, told the board that nearly a quarter of district buildings are 60 to 80 years old and that 67% of SAISD square footage has a composite age over 40 years. He said an estimated $415,000,000 of deferred maintenance would have to be addressed within five years if no district action is taken.

Under the recommended plan, priority projects include a new or replacement facility at Glenn Middle School, a new auditorium and gymnasium and renovations for Central High School, a new CTE wing and a mariachi/fine‑arts addition at Lakeview, completion or second phases at Fannin and McGill elementaries, a replacement or renovation of Crockett’s kitchen and dining areas, and $35,000,000 in the highest‑priority deferred maintenance projects. The facilities advisory committee, made up of more than 60 community members, narrowed an initial list of roughly $628,000,000 in needs to the current recommendation.

The administration presented one example ballot layout showing either a single proposition or two propositions; the board voted to call a one‑proposition election. The projected tax impact is an increase of 27.25 cents per $100 of assessed value in the interest and sinking portion of the tax rate. The district estimated that on a $200,000 home (after the optional homestead exemption described in the presentation), the increase would be about $272.60 a year, roughly $22.72 per month. The presentation noted homeowners age 65 and older may have tax freezes that exempt them from the increase.

Trustees and administration framed the bond as an investment in student safety, career and technical education spaces (welding, culinary, health science, child development), and long‑term community economic health. The administration said replacing or renovating key facilities could avoid larger costs later; the presentation estimated a new high school built on new property today would cost about $400,000,000.

Public comment at the meeting included concerns about timing and contractor performance. Resident Virgil Paccetti urged trustees not to place the measure on a May election, saying turnout is typically low in May and raising questions about past projects, delays and alleged overpayments. The administration and multiple trustees responded during the agenda discussion by noting the committee process, the timeline of facility assessments and the need to address failing infrastructure.

The board also heard that the district has used COVID federal relief dollars for some recent projects (McGill and Fannin phases) and stressed that phases of work were designed to be cost‑effective and to right‑size elementary capacity where needed.

Next steps: the order calls a May 3, 2025 bond election; the administration will proceed with final election preparations and continue community outreach and information so voters can review project lists and tax‑impact estimates before the election.

Votes at a glance: The board approved an order calling a bond election for May 3, 2025, for $397,000,000 (motion by Dr. Kamen; second by Dr. Mills). The motion passed 7-0.

Context: The last successful SAISD bond the presentation cited was February 2008 for $117,000,000. Administrators told trustees that failing to act risks escalating costs and continued deterioration of campus infrastructure.