Stafford MSD board narrows bond package to about $150 million; trustees split projects into four propositions

The Stafford Municipal School District board spent a large portion of the meeting reviewing a draft bond package and financing options, with staff and outside advisors presenting project scopes, cost estimates and vote-language options toward a proposed May 3 ballot measure.

Staff and consultants presented a draft package that, after discussion, the board coalesced around at roughly $150 million in total authorizations split into four propositions: general campus renovations and academic support (approximately $113.4 million), a separate reimbursement proposition for the district’s $5 million maintenance note (estimated on the paperwork as $5.25 million to include issuance costs), an athletics package (about $21.4 million), and technology and instructional equipment (about $10 million). Together those figures produce a bond authorization in the $149–151 million range, depending on final adjustments staff will make before the joint board/city council meeting.

Consultants and staff walked trustees through specific project components and cost drivers. LAN (the district’s program advisor) highlighted priorities identified by the long-range planning committee, noting that items marked “green” had stronger community and committee support. JP (LAN) said the colored priority sheet was designed to help trustees “draw that line” between cost thresholds for different tax-impact scenarios and to identify which projects fall into a zero-tax-increase package versus modest tax increases.

Key details and options discussed during the meeting included:

- Academic support and renovations: Staff added a new “academic support” line — small equipment, CTE lab compliance items, library materials and some STEM gear — with a draft figure of about $4.5 million that is not yet reflected in earlier option worksheets. LAN said essential CTE items alone (walk-in refrigerators/freezers, welders, specialized computers) totaled roughly $2.3 million.

- Early Childhood Center (ECC) and STEM/elementary renovations: Trustees discussed two approaches for the ECC and STEM programs. One option would construct an addition at ECC to add classrooms; another would repurpose existing space and build a new STEM building instead. LAN said removing the 10-classroom ECC addition would shift projects toward a new STEM building and district auditorium.

- Transportation facility and buses: The draft included about $8.9–9.0 million for a new or upgraded transportation facility and bus parking. LAN told trustees that replacing portable buildings on the existing site would be far less expensive but that many committee members preferred a comprehensive facility; JP said a conservative off-the-cuff estimate to build a smaller facility instead of a full new campus-style site could reduce the listed cost by roughly 20 percent.

- Athletics and turf: The board discussed a $9.8 million baseball/softball complex; LAN said about $2.2 million of that total is the artificial-turf component and could be removed to reduce cost. The larger athletics package also includes a field house, stadium improvements, weight rooms and scoreboard/field-turf updates.

- Fencing and grounds: LAN estimated a “fencing-only” option at about $2.6 million. Trustees asked for a detailed breakout of linear footage and gates to identify possible reductions.

- Safety and security: Trustees discussed purchases to support the SRO program and site security upgrades. The number of district-owned SRO vehicles was not finalized;…