By the Community, For the Community
La Porte ISD values parent and community involvement. That commitment is demonstrated in our approach to developing a comprehensive master facility plan for the district. The 18-month process was transparent and shared with the public. Nearly 30 members from the committee participated in several meetings over an 18-month period. The Committee consisted of parents, students, community members, district staff, senior citizens, and business/community leaders. Together, this group presented proposals to a citizen’s Steering Committee who then refined the work into one proposal submitted to LPISD Trustees. After careful review and deliberation, Trustees unanimously approved a bond proposal in the amount of $235 million.
10-Year Master Plan
LPISD has education specifications which create a standard of “Education Adequacy” for every learning and support space on a campus. This ensures that every school will be compliant to local and state standards and provide the same teaching tools and learning environment by grade level. A 10-year master plan was commissioned by the District and a strategy was developed to plan improvements.
EARLY VOTING APR 24 - MAY 2 ELECTION DAY MAY 6
Superintendent Dr. Walter Jackson outlines the bond proposal
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSITIONS BOND.LPISD.ORG
LPISD Committee Meetings
Why do districts hold bond elections?
School districts do not receive state funding for renovating or building new schools. Instead, they must receive funds through school bond elections. Homeowners borrow money in the form of a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home. A school district borrows money in the form of bonds to finance new schools and renovation projects. Both are repaid over time, but in order for a school district to sell bonds (borrow money) it must go to the voters for approval. By law, bond funds may not be used to fund daily operating expenses or salaries. Bond funds may only be used for the projects described.
BALLOT LANGUAGE
How is there no tax increase?
The State of Texas provides two tax rates for school districts: the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) to provide for daily operations like salaries, fuel, utilities, maintenance, etc. and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) to provide capital investments like renovation of school buildings. La Porte ISD’s appraisal growth, largely from commercial property, will generate the funds to cover the cost of the bond payments over the next 30 years and not require a tax rate increase to the I&S tax rate for residents in La Porte ISD.
In 2019, Texas Legislators passed a new law as part of HB 3 that requires all bond propositions for any school district to have the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” on the ballot. Due to this requirement, all voters will see this statement on the official ballot language, regardless of the bond’s impact on the district’s tax rate.
Vote at ANY Harris County Location Vote Early Apr 24 - May 2 | Election Day Sat, May 6 Register to vote by Thursday, April 6 www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote 4 Convenient Locations in LPISD LA PORTE CITY HALL 604 W Fairmont Parkway, La Porte TX 77571 INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER 9832 Spencer Hwy, La Porte TX 77571 MORGANS POINT CITY HALL 510 Bayridge Rd, La Porte TX 77571 SHOREACRES CITY HALL 601 Shoreacres Blvd, Shoreacres TX 77571 APRIL 24 8AM–5PM MAY 1 7AM–7PM APRIL 26 7AM–7PM APRIL 25 7AM–7PM MAY 2 7AM–7PM ELECTION DAY MAY 6 7AM–7PM APRIL 27 7AM–7PM APRIL 28 7AM–7PM APRIL 29 8AM–5PM SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
APR 30 12PM–5PM
OF BOND FUNDS STAY IN THE DISTRICT
PROPOSITION A
TOTAL PROPOSED: $164,000,000
Renovations & Maintenance
$88,074,220
• Many of the buildings in La Porte ISD are outdated and are reaching (or are past) their life expectancy.
• This includes renovations to Lomax JH fine arts & a new gym; plus a new entry & gym renovation at LPHS.
Safety & Security
$5,000,000
• Safety and security was a top priority for the district and board when considering the 2023 Bond proposal.
• This includes surveillance cameras, silent panic alarm systems, emergency management software and security film on windows and doors.
Technology Infrastructure
$23,000,000
• During natural disasters, older technology infrastructure poses the risk of missed communication to district staff and students.
• Included projects are district Software/Support, Boardroom projector/sound, DeWalt Academy wiring and district fiber on a 10-year plan.
ADDRESS AGING FACILITIES
Bulldog Development Centre
$34,925,780
• Two-story facility with a professional learning space for 500 on the second floor; weight room, locker room space for PE and athletics on the first floor.
• The professional development space includes community space and education space for various learning types.
• Locker rooms are programmable for both male and female students.
New Buses
$5,400,000
• La Porte ISD utilizes 85+ buses and more than 314 routes daily to transport students. Over 50 percent of students ride buses from home to school each year.
• The useful life of a school bus in LPISD is 7-10 years, and over half of the current fleet is approaching or past its useful life.
Entrance Professional Development Space
PROPOSITION B
TOTAL PROPOSED: $15,000,000
TECHNOLOGY
• Bond 2023 would include elementary iPads, student laptops and parts, teacher laptops and parts, teacher technology docking stations, monitors, & wireless access.
New Student & Teacher Devices
PROPOSITION C
TOTAL PROPOSED: $56,000,000
STADIUM
• Proposition C builds a new football stadium on the same site.
• Bulldog Stadium is 65 years old and beyond reasonable repair. Structural engineers confirmed through a formal audit/review the district’s concerns of (stadium) structural damages due to aging, a lack of (ADA) accessibility, and a need for increased safety and security upgrades.
• This proposition would include additional seating, turf field, a new press box, locker rooms, 8 lane track, lights, scoreboard and sound. The new facility would be ADA and UIL compliant, meeting district & community needs for the next 60 years.
• Each year that this project is delayed, the cost of construction increases by $12.1 million.
Current Concrete Under Bulldog Stadium Bleachers
Current Bulldog Stadium
