With only a majority vote needed, the Boerne Independent School District’s two bond proposals became reality on Saturday after district patrons approved them by slim margins.
The vote capped a long but now successful campaign the BISD administration, staff and its Long Range Planning Committee went through to get the word out about why the propositions were needed. Boerne ISD Superintendent Tom Price alone gave about 100 presentations to various groups and individuals about what the propositions are all about and why they are important to the successful future of the school district.
“First, a big thank you goes out to the voters for approving this bond,” committee Chair Ernie Pyles told The Star after the election totals were posted by the Kendall County Elections Office. “We really appreciate the support from our community. This was a bond built by the community, and we are grateful for the community’s help in passing it.”
Pyles also touched on how close the margin of victory was.
“Voter approval for the bond was a bit closer than I would have liked,” he said. “Our ‘For Boerne Schools’ PAC worked hard over the last several weeks to help educate the community on the components of the bond and why passing it was so important. In the end, I believe our team made a difference. I am proud of their many contributions.”
Proposition A totals $132.64 million and includes an eighth elementary school; expansions at Boerne and Champion high schools as well as at North and South middle schools; portable classrooms where the need exists or will exist; land acquisition; a second access point to Voss Middle School and design work for a third high school; general maintenance, including measures to keep BISD Stadium safe and useable in the short term; network infrastructure and an audio/visual “refresh;” an aquatics learning center; work on the old administration building and Boerne Academy; library hubs at four elementary schools; moving and expanding the district’s operations center; and money for planning, management and contingency fees. It passed by 249 votes, or 52 to 48 percent. The vote count was 3,118 to 2,869. Proposition B, the $3 million technology proposition that funds student and staff devices in the eighth elementary school and expansions at the secondary campuses as well as refresh devices at all BISD campuses, was supported by more voters as it passed by a 3,239-2,742 tally, or 54 percent to 46 percent.
“We are very grateful to the voters for supporting this bond,” Price said Saturday night. “The bond package was truly a grassroots effort, led by the Long Range Steering Committee. We are greatly appreciative to the 80 community volunteers who served on the committee and worked hard to help pass this bond.”
The voter turnout, according to the elections office, was 12.86 percent. In all, 6,504 of the 50,587 eligible voters in Kendall, Bexar and Comal counties cast ballots. Of that, 3,676 voted early.
Throughout the “For Boerne Schools” bond campaign, which officially began in January when trustees approved the bond package proposal presented to them by the long-range planning committee, the message has been constant, and consistent.
“This bond will help combat the district’s rapidly growing student enrollment,” Pyles told The Star in March. “Since May 2021, the district has gained nearly 1,000 new students, including over 400 since the first day of school on Aug. 11. District enrollment is projected to double to nearly 21,000 by 2031.
“There is simply a need for more room in classrooms for our students. This bond will add 2,400 seats for new students.”
He continued.
“The priority maintenance of the bond will help with desperately needed projects that the district has been unable to pay for due to being forced to send over $115 million of our community’s taxpayer money to the state due to recapture.”
The bond measure, which focuses on community growth, safety concerns and the needs of the district, was split into the $162.64 million for expansion, maintenance and safety projects and the separate $3 million proposal for technology upgrades.
It also has been noted that the propositions will not raise BISD’s tax rate. However, according to the bond language that was required to appear on the ballot, it is considered a property tax increase.
“The $165.64 million total of both bond propositions will not raise Boerne ISD’s tax rate, and taxes for residents 65 and over are frozen,” BISD Director of Communications Bryan Benway said in a press release after the election returns were posted.
“The passage of this bond once again shows that we have earned the trust of our community,” Price said. “We cannot thank the community enough for their tremendous support.
“Now, we can move forward and begin the next phase of the project, which will greatly benefit our students, parents and staff.”
A key component to determine the bond proposal items was the district’s updated demographic study, which was presented to the trustees last October. The study, using a moderate growth scenario, predicts the BISD student population to double by the 2031-32 academic year to 20,654 students.
The demographic study was done by Population and Survey Analysts, and it used a 6 to 7 percent predicted annual growth rate to determine its numbers. The majority of the growth is expected in the southern portions of the district and along the Interstate 10 and Highway 46 corridors.
“Now that the bond has passed, the district will move toward the next stages,” Pyles told The Star. “The board, Dr. Price and his team will work tirelessly to ensure the projects in this bond are completed in a timely manner and will be fiscally responsible as they always are.”
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