Deer Park ISD committee weighs 3-year capital levy, limited debt and transportation co‑op to buy land and address Arcadia crowding

At a Deer Park ISD Facilities Advisory Committee meeting, district staff presented a set of financing options to address an urgent list of school-facilities needs, including purchase of land and construction of a transportation center, interim improvements at Arcadia Elementary and other capital projects.

Alexa, the district staff member who led the meeting, said the committee’s top priority is acquiring land and building a road to support a new transportation center and a new elementary campus. “We have been, eager beavers and just really racking our brains as to, where to go what our plans look like,” Alexa said as she opened the discussion and invited public feedback.

The committee reviewed three financing paths: (1) a capital levy (run between one and six years; simple majority required), (2) a limited general obligation (LGO) bond (non‑voted debt that cannot be used for new construction), and (3) a voted bond (supermajority—60%+1—required and usable only for capital). Staff also summarized a possible transportation co‑op with neighboring districts and other revenue sources such as state “match” funds.

Why it matters: Deer Park Elementary (DPE) and Arcadia are facing capacity and building-life issues that the committee described as increasingly urgent. Arcadia currently uses multiple portables, has no cafeteria and combines classes because of space…