The Round Rock school district called for a nearly $1 billion bond referendum to upgrade schools, pay for maintenance, and expand career and technical education programs Thursday night.
The bond proposal is largely focused on fixing long-term maintenance issues and upgrading facilities for the 46,300-student district. If passed, it would be the first the district would tackle since 2018, when voters approved a $508.4 million package.
The board approved the $998 million bond referendum on a 5-2 vote, with Trustees Mary Bone and Danielle Weston voting against it.
“I am excited for this bond,” school board President Amber Feller Landrum said. “I wanted to approach this bond and this process by looking at this entire district, and I am so thrilled to say that every school will be touched.”
The referendum contains four propositions that residents will vote on individually: $798.3 million for school maintenance, school bus purchases and expanding career and technical education programs; $125.3 million to upgrade technology; $8.6 million for fine arts facility improvements; and $65.9 million for athletic upgrades such as to lighting and locker rooms and construction of a standalone multipurpose athletic facility.
During Thursday’s board meeting, Weston said she voted against the bond proposal because she felt that it was too large.
“I really would have preferred a smaller bond that was more focused on the needs of the school district, the basic needs, especially given the economic climate that we live in,” Weston said.
The district plans to release a finalized list of projects the bonds would fund next week, a spokeswoman said.
Early voting will begin Oct. 21. Election Day is Nov. 5.