Stafford officials review comprehensive needs assessment and bond scenarios; public urges putting measure to voters

At a joint meeting of the Stafford Municipal School District and the City of Stafford, Superintendent Robert Bostic and outside consultants reviewed a comprehensive needs assessment and several bond-sale scenarios as community members urged the district to seek voter approval for facility funding.

Bostic told attendees, “for the record, you do not have a bond. You don't have a bond at all,” and said the materials being discussed — produced by LAN (facility assessment) and RBC Capital (financing scenarios) — are estimates intended to frame community input. He said the district borrowed about $5,000,000 for emergency post‑hurricane repairs and bus purchases and that the comprehensive list of all projects as presented would total about $246,576,931 if every item were included.

Why this matters: the board and the city must decide whether to place a bond proposition before voters; the consultants presented multiple price points with different tax impacts. One scenario the consultants and staff highlighted was an $80,000,000 package that the district says could be issued with “no additional tax increase.” Larger scenarios discussed would increase the tax rate; presenters cited an example in which a larger package could raise the rate by multiple pennies (consultants’ scenario tables list impacts across several options, including a scenario that would increase the rate substantially). Bostic and district staff emphasized that the figures are estimates and that more specific bond amounts would be put into a referendum packet if the bodies decide to proceed.

What was discussed: LAN described a facility condition assessment that examined deferred maintenance, building systems, roofs, HVAC, technology, bus fleet replacement, CTE (career and technical education) needs, safety and security improvements, and other items identified by the district’s Long Range Planning Group and a “key communicators” panel. RBC/financial staff showed bond market scenarios and tax‑impact tables. Staff said the district currently carries approximately $94,000,000 of outstanding debt on its Interest & Sinking (I&S) fund (the portion of local tax dollars used for capital/debt service), and noted the I&S portion of the tax rate is about $0.21 while Maintenance & Operations (M&O) sits at about $0.78 after state compression.

Public comment: Dozens of residents — many identifying themselves as former students, parents, grandparents, or long‑time residents — urged the district and city to give voters the option to fund facility work. Letty Almendarez, who described multiple family members who attended Stafford schools, said investing “in our local schools ... is the most effective way to ensure that our children receive a high quality education.” Sadie Williams, a long‑time community volunteer, said those who worked on the planning efforts “have put a lot of time, a lot of long hours, a lot of in‑depth study” and expressed support for the bond. Mary Kendrick, who identified herself as a recently retired pediatrician, said upgraded facilities, technology and safety measures help keep the district competitive.

Legal and procedural notes: staff and bond counsel reminded trustees and council members that if either body decides to call an election, employees and elected officials may not use district or city resources to advocate for or against the referendum while acting in their official capacities. Bostic and bond counsel also noted calendar constraints: the transcript records that Feb. 14 is the final day for the board and city to act if they want to place a measure on an upcoming ballot; staff said a special meeting of the city council was scheduled for the next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. to consider action.

Next steps and timing: staff said the board and city will receive a referendum packet with numbers if they decide to proceed; the administration asked the public to review the materials posted online and encouraged attendance at the follow‑up meeting. Bostic said the Long Range Planning Group and key communicators will continue to be involved in oversight and community engagement if a bond is pursued.

Formal actions at the meeting: the SMSD board made a motion to adjourn (moved by Board Secretary John Battista, seconded by Trustee Matilongo); the board president stated the motion carried unanimously. The City of Stafford also moved to adjourn and the joint meeting concluded at 8:50 p.m.

The discussion combined presentation of consultant findings, community feedback, statutory/process reminders, and scheduling for next decisions — not a final decision to call an election. The board and the city must still act to place any bond on the ballot, and staff stressed the figures presented are estimates and subject to finalization.