The Houston School District is asking voters in April to approve a $4 million bond issue that includes new construction as well improvements within current facilities.
The bond, which would not increase taxes, would connect the current middle and high school and build a new library, cafeteria, elevator and upstairs restrooms. Also included in the bond issue is $1 million allotted for roof repairs of current buildings and one-half million for energy efficiency needs.
Earlier this month, Jeff McNiell of the Herald interviewed Superintendent Scott Dill during the Feb. 5 live broadcast of the boys’ basketball game against Thayer inside Hiett Gymnasim. Here is the full excerpt from their conversation:
Jeff McNiell: In April, the school has decided to put a bond issue on the ballot. Briefly tell us exactly what the district will be asking the community to support.
Scott Dill: We want to take out general obligation bonds in the amount $4 million. With this $4 million, first and foremost, we want to fix the roofs on our buildings. Everyone that has been a student and the parents in the district know that we have buildings that leak. That’s unacceptable. I have kids in this district and when it rains, it pours in our classrooms. That’s no good. That’s no good for kids. That’s no good for anybody.
No. 2, we want to expand our cafeteria. Right now, our middle school/high school cafeteria is just not big enough. We’re running three lunch shifts. Our middle schoolers are eating a split lunch shift where they go to class, go to lunch and go back to the same class again. That’s not good for kids, and that’s not good education.
The third thing we want to do is build a two-story addition between the middle school and high school –– connect those two buildings and put an elevator in the building so we can get kids to the top floor that have mobility issues. We also want to build a new library in that.
The other big, important factor of this new construction is putting our administrative offices all together on the bottom floor and have one main entrance to the school district. This is a safer environment for our students to learn in. We will have both administrative offices looking at each other right there across the way and one common entry point sealed with magnetic lock doors. This is safer for kids.
And the last part of it, we’re going to use part of the money we got from Romines from the Drive One 4UR School –– and we sure appreciate their support with that –– we will also allocate a portion of the bond money to do some renovations on our air conditioners and heaters. First on the list is getting this gym air conditioned so that when we have those volleyball games in the fall, it is comfortable for people to use. And if we have to have graduation in here or any of those things that happen in warm weather months, it makes this facility a better value and or more use to the community.
We’ve had concerts in here. This is our community center right now. We want to make sure that it’s usable in all seasons and that it’s comfortable for our community to use.
That’s the long and short of it. That’s what we’re asking for and hope to do.
JM: I know Mr. Dill that you and the school board members put in a lot of long hours looking at all the possibilities and considerations for this bond issue. Give us an idea of why you decided to go after these projects at this moment.
SD: Really, this bond issue is all about focusing on essentials. We have a lot of needs in the school district. What we’re doing right now is taking care of some of those immediate problems that have been long-standing for the district that people have known about for a number of years. Now, there are still larger needs out there. We’ve attempted to build a high school a couple different times. That need is absolutely still there. Our line of thinking is, though, if we build that new high school –– which we could do at this time through sound fiscal management –– however it would take every penny we’ve got to build that new high school. And although it would be wonderful, on the back end of it, we would still have classrooms that leak, a cafeteria that’s too small and kids that couldn’t get to the second floor of the high school and middle school buildings. Those needs will still be there. The district would not have any money to address that. While the need for the high school is still there, we’ve had to say that we need to firm up our foundation a little bit. We need to take care of these essentials before we take that next step.
Now, in addition to the library space and expansion of the cafeteria, we also gain new classrooms out of this, which will help us pull those kids back to the middle school that are currently walking to the elementary during the day. Once again, a safer environment for our kids and they’re exposed less to the elements during the day.
This is that first step toward the high school. We build a library, we expand the cafeteria, we get additional classroom spaces and we get those additional offices, and then we’re prepared to take that next step and build that high school. And then, additionally, build the new gymnasium that this community wants, they need and they deserve. This is a fine facility the community built for us back in 1964. It has served us well and been a fantastic facility for us. But, in the 21st century, we want districts back. We want to host those tournaments. We want to bring those dollars into the community. We want to showcase this beautiful community that we have. This beautiful school that we have. We want to be the envy of the SCA, and there’s not doubt about it. This project is the first step along those lines. I firmly believe that, and that’s how we’re going to go out and try to get people to vote for it.
JM: You mentioned the gymnasium. I know it’s something that was discussed for quite a while, and the school board ultimately decided not to pursue one at this time. I know it was your recommendation not to purse the gymnasium at this time. Why did you feel now was not the moment to go after it as part of this bond issue?
SD: For one reason, if we go after the gymnasium and we build it the way I believe it needs to be built, the $4 million bond issue we’re looking at all of the sudden swells to a minimum of at least $6, probably $7 million to get the job done right. I’m a big believer in doing it right the first time and not revisiting it.
Right now, our bonding capacity is right at $7.5 million. One of the reasons we’ve chosen the projects we have and the amount that we have is that if we finance this correctly –– and one of the options we’re looking at is a 15-year lease –– it will allow us in 2015 to run another bond issue if we chose. At that point, if the community tells us, ‘Hey, we want to build this gymnasium,’ that’s what we’ll do.
Right now, we’re focused on these essentials because these are things that have to be taken care of. My opinion was that a gymnasium, while very nice, a great addition to the school district and crown jewel for the community, is not essential right now. Getting those classrooms sealed up, making sure we have space for students to eat lunch, making sure we have adequate supervision and safety –– those are our essentials right now.
JM: Mr. Dill, we appreciate everything you’ve done as superintendent of the school district. As a citizen of the community and parent of a soon-to-be child in the district, I believe it’s important that the community support this and set a standard, as you’ve said before, of supporting the school district.
SD: We believe this is a good project. My door is always open. Anyone who wants to come talk to me, just come by the office or give me a call. I’d be happy to talk about it anytime.