Manor ISD outlines $385 million Bond 2025 plan focused on campus upgrades, safety and technology with no planned tax-rate increase

Manor Independent School District leaders presented details of Bond 2025 in a virtual community session, outlining a $385 million package split by law into three propositions that would fund campus upgrades, safety and technology, and a separate fine-arts item. The district said the plan is structured so voters would not see a planned increase in Manor ISD’s interest-and-sinking (I&S) tax rate, currently 37¢ per $100 of property value, if the board staggers debt issuance and benefits from rising property values.

The presentation, led by Maritza Galaga, the district’s executive director of communications, and Dr. Robert Sarmani, superintendent, described the bond’s principal aims and why the district is seeking voter authorization. “If you can remember anything, remember four things,” Dr. Sarmani said, summarizing the bond as focused on upgrading campuses, enhancing safety, upgrading scholar and staff technology, and doing that without a predicted tax-rate increase. CFO Moises Santiago emphasized the district’s plan to manage debt so the I&S rate would remain at 37¢, and reiterated at the end of the session that “our tax rate will remain the same.”

Why it matters: Manor ISD serves roughly 9,000–10,000 students across about 99 square miles and officials said demographic forecasts show growth to about 15,600 students within 10 years. District leaders said Bond 2025 would address deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs across campuses and also provide capacity to respond to residential development in parts of the district.

Key projects and priorities described - Manor New Tech High School: a multi-phase renovation to modernize a patchwork campus, consolidate facilities, improve security and eventually expand capacity toward a roughly 1,200-student campus. The superintendent said upgrades would address facilities such as robotics and manufacturing labs, a purpose-built band hall and larger classrooms. Traffic flow and the role of adjacent roads (Joyce Turner Drive) are part of the design conversation. - Manor High School: an academic wing to bring ninth- through 12th-grade students together at the 973 campus to reduce busing and improve safety. - Aging elementary schools: targeted renovations at Bluebonnet Elementary, Decker Elementary and Blake Manor Elementary addressing plumbing, HVAC, electrical and building refreshes. - Safety and security: districtwide camera upgrades, fencing, card access, and “audio enhancement” systems that district staff described as classroom-level systems that can provide better audio and situational awareness for first responders in emergencies. - Technology and buses: device refreshes for classroom technology (district staff confirmed interactive “smart” boards and other classroom devices are included), and replacement of older school buses. - Special education: a proposed separate facility for Manor ISD’s 18+ transition/adult-education program for students with disabilities to be moved out of the high-school campus into a purpose-built location.

Finance and timing The district described Bond 2025 as a voter authorization to issue debt that can only be used for capital projects; it cannot be used to pay teacher salaries or general operating costs. Officials explained three factors they expect will allow the district to maintain the current I&S tax rate rather than raise it in the near term: increased property values from new commercial development, issuing debt in phases rather than all at once, and using recent debt-management actions (the board authorized a roughly $35 million debt paydown at a recent meeting, which staff said reduced interest costs by about $13 million). The district currently shows an overall local tax rate around $1.08 per $100 of value (M&O ~71¢; I&S ~37¢). Officials said the district’s bond rating is Aa3 and noted three consecutive “A” financial ratings from the Texas Education Agency’s financial accountability measures.

Election logistics and next steps The district listed community meetings and provided election dates: voter registration deadline October 6, early voting October 20–31 and Election Day November 4 (the district and presenters gave those dates during the session). The polling place in Manor will be the old Manor Elementary School on Greg Lane rather than central administration. If voters approve Bond 2025, the district said it would move into design and prioritization with architects and community stakeholders; officials emphasized they would not immediately issue the entire $385 million but would phase projects and debt issuance to manage tax-rate impact.

What officials said they could and could not change about bond funds Presenters stressed that bond proceeds must be spent on the projects described in the propositions. The session also noted limited flexibility: the board can reassign funds if an urgent need arises (for example, sudden structural damage) or, if bond proceeds earn interest before being spent, the board may apply contingency or excess interest to certain projects. Proposition B is dedicated to devices/technology; Proposition C is the separate fine-arts project required by state law.

Community questions and district responses Attendees asked about item selection (facilities studies and a facilities advisory committee ranked deferred-maintenance needs), inflation and escalation (presenters said the $385 million figure includes projected escalation), project timing (design work would begin quickly if the bond passes, but physical construction would be phased and timed to limit tax-rate pressure), and whether the district could postpone projects if housing growth does not materialize (officials said they could choose not to build wings if projected housing never appears).

The session closed with district contact information and reminders about registration and election dates. The district said additional information and answers to questions would be posted on the bond website and FAQs and that the session recording would be emailed to families.