Sharyland ISD facility committee urges voters to back large bond including aquatic center
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Summary
A community facility-planning committee recommended a broad bond package (package A) to modernize campuses, add an aquatic center and fund deferred maintenance; the board heard the report and accepted the committee's process and preferences, which staff will carry toward a May bond election and further modeling of tax impacts.
The Sharyland Independent School District on Monday received a report from a community-led facility planning committee that recommended a comprehensive bond package to address aging buildings, classroom modernizations, fine arts expansions and a districtwide aquatic center.
Committee members—who said they met six times and engaged roughly 450 community participants at the final session—told the board the work used a structured voting tool and produced three package options. "We launched with 150 voices, and at our final session almost 500 arrived," a committee representative said, describing robust community support for the most comprehensive option, referred to as package A.
The committee described four project frameworks that guided recommendations: academic modernization, safety and security, outdoor and expanded learning spaces, and district equity and alignment. Proposed campus projects include new auditoriums and fine-arts space at Sharyland High School, air conditioning and gym renovations at elementary campuses, an integrated cafeteria/field-house conversion, new playgrounds, and a district aquatic center intended for instruction, water polo, lifeguard certification and community use.
Committee members and trustees discussed cost and tax impacts. Presenters said the committee recommended a roughly $260 million package but also noted the board packet language that the bond election amount would be set at a not-to-exceed level for final authorization; staff provided a tax-impact illustration that used a $170,000 taxable value example and estimated a monthly cost of about $27 for the illustrative homeowner under package A. A district finance presenter said the committee and administration will refine cost estimates and bid assumptions before placing any proposition before voters.
Trustees praised the transparent process. "This is the beginning of what comes next," one presenter said, and board members thanked students and parents who participated. The board did not vote to call an election Monday; staff said the next steps include finalizing project scopes, refining cost modeling and determining a bond election timeline for board consideration.