Bond Referendum Proposed for May Election by Brooke Ezzo
N
orthwest Independent School District is one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. During the February 10 board meeting, the Northwest Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a bond referendum to accommodate the fast-paced growth.
To prepare for the number of students projected to be enrolled over the next five years, the district’s Long-Range
Planning Committee recommended a
bond referendum proposing significant renovations and expansion within the district.
for Pike Middle, Seven Hills Elementary, and Hatfield Elementary, a renovation
schools, one new middle school, and three
replacement schools.
It would also offer other facility updates, capital improvements, and
programs throughout the
School, expansion of Nance Elementary, and elementary classroom additions to
create full-day pre-kindergarten classes throughout the district. Other items
include new technologies such as devices, data center and
EARLY VOTING April 20-28 Election Day May 2
NISD officials.
fiber upgrades, and updates to school cameras and cyber security.
Voters are encouraged
to get to the polls on May
2 to vote on a number of
projects that will help with
the districts’ needs.
district with no increase to the district tax rate, according to
In compliance with new state laws that
took effect in September 2019, the 2020
Northwest ISD enrolls more than 1,000
bond package will be presented to voters
which spans three counties and 12
•
students annually within its boundaries, municipalities. Projects included in the
as four separate ballot propositions.
bond referendum are expected to assist
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schools and school expansions, improvements equaling
five years.
four new schools, replacement schools
Proposition A: will include new facility updates, and capital
with enrollment projections for the next
Major items in the bond proposal include
and fields used for football
and soccer, as well as high school
baseball, softball, and tennis facilities. Estimated at $23.5 million. •
and expansion of Northwest High
The bond referendum would add three new elementary
tennis courts
$937.7 million. •
Proposition B: will include funds for recreational facilities; middle school
Proposition C: updating the
NISD stadium and Texas Stadium. Estimated at $8.8 million.
•
Proposition D: funds for providing
technology devices for teachers and
students. The district currently issues laptops and iPads to teachers and a
Chromebook in secondary education campuses. This proposition will grant grades 3-5 access to a class set of
Chromebooks, and students in K-2 access to shared Chromebooks. Estimated at $16.4 million. The total amount of the capital bond referendum is $986.6 million.
According to the Northwest ISD website, because of additional residential and
retail development within the district’s
boundaries there will be no change to the current tax rate. Which is the lowest it has been since 2013.
Voters have from April 20-28 to cast early voting ballots, or they can cast ballots on Election Day, Saturday, May 2. If you are
new to the area make sure you check your voter registration to ensure the correct address in on file.
March 2020 | 35 WEST | 19
