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Bond action committee recommends $30–$32 million initial capital-improvement bond and more facilities assessments
Summary
A citizen bond action committee recommended the board target a first-phase capital improvements bond in May, asked for updated facility assessments and proposed reconvening after assessments and boundary recommendations are complete.
A bond action committee convened by the Victoria ISD Board of Trustees recommended an initial capital-improvement bond ask of roughly $30 million to $32 million as a first phase of a longer-term facilities strategy, and urged the board to commission updated engineering and architectural assessments for selected campuses.
Colonel Richard Ayasas (committee member reporting on behalf of the group) told trustees the committee toured multiple campuses and found the district needs updated cost data because prior estimates predated inflation and the pandemic. "We require more data, mostly due to the fact that the figures that were done from the last, pre COVID and inflation numbers," Ayasas said, adding that patchwork repairs over many years have increased the scale of deferred maintenance.
Committee recommendations presented to the board included: target a May bond election for a first-phase capital improvements ask of about $30–$32 million; hire an architect and engineer for a full facilities assessment of both Patty Welder Middle School and the STEM campus (referred to in materials as STEM Bridal School); ensure any campus-focused work is done comprehensively to last 15–20 years; await recommendations from the attendance, boundaries and rezoning task force before making elementary-school improvement recommendations; and reconvene the committee after assessments and task-force recommendations, with a planned session June 7 (the committee set Oct. 7 as the next session date to continue work).
Committee chair Amy Mundy was unavailable; committee vice chairs and board liaisons (trustees Castella, Bell and Patton were among members) participated in the field work and meetings. Staff noted the committee’s work is an initial, foundational step; board direction and additional, updated cost analyses will be necessary before the board sets a final bond proposal and election date.
No formal board action was taken on the committee’s report at the meeting; trustees said they would take the recommendations under advisement and await the requested assessments and task-force results.
