The 2022 ECISD Bond package was developed through a bond advisory committee with the community and school collaboration toward:

• Responding to increased enrollment with new construction and renovation of existing schools. The increased enrollment response includes the addition of two new elementary schools, a new middle school, and new pre-K and Kindergarten classroom additions at several schools, increasing student capacity by more than 200 students per campus. This bond includes a new transportation facility and renovation of the existing facility for a new warehouse and new Police headquarters.
  
  
• Creating safer and energy-efficient environments for all ECISD students, teachers, and staff. The 2022 Bond also improves campuses by creating a safer and more energy-efficient environment with secure entry vestibules, addressing building safety codes, improved drop-off and pick-up areas, and sustainable school improvements.
  
  
• Providing new or renovated support facilities and campus offerings throughout the district. Campus renovations will help increase durability and reduce high maintenance costs by creating interior and exterior collaborative learning spaces at several campuses and addressing ADA compliance and much-needed building upgrades.

Election Day for East Central ISD’s bond proposal is Tuesday, November 8. Early voting is from October 24 to November 4.

All registered voters within the boundaries of East Central ISD are qualified to vote. Register to vote by October 11, 2022. 

• Click here to register to vote
• Click here for voting by mail information
• Click here for services available to voters with disabilities in Texas

East Central’s last bond in 2016 came in on time and under budget, and this bond will be implemented using the same practices.

• No tax impact for aged 65+
• No tax impact for 100% disabled veterans.
• The bond will cost $0.06 per $100,000 of property value ($5-$6 per month)
• No tax increase for the first two years (2024)

Delaying implementation of the bond program exposes the District to escalating construction costs, which are expected to increase the proposed bond projects' total cost by an estimated 12% or $27 million in the next year. 

The financing of this bond program will not require a tax increase for the first two years but will result in an eventual increase of approximately .06 per $100,000 of property value by the end of the construction program. This would cost $5-$6 per month or $60-$72 per $100,000 per year.

The capital improvements to be funded through this bond program will take several years to complete. As a result, bond proceeds will be needed over time and not at once.

Because all proceeds of a bond issue are immediately available, and interest begins to accrue on the entire amount at delivery, the District will not issue bonds all at once.

Instead, bond issues will be separated and timed to match identified construction milestones, reducing the amount of interest owed during the construction period.

Utilizing this process, the District projects that no tax increases will be needed until at least 2025, and new residents moving to the District will participate in repayment of a larger percentage of the overall bond program.

The last bond approval came in 2016 and was one phase of a strategy to make all schools safe, comparable and ease congestion. This bond added renovations to Harmony, Pecan Valley, Sinclair and Salado. It also created Tradition Elementary, which is currently at capacity. The bond also built the District's Performing Arts Center along with drama, band and choir renovations. The intent of the most recent bond election that failed was to begin the second phase of renovating schools and adding schools to address population growth.

The State of Texas does not provide enough funding for new builds or extensive renovations.

Take a look back at previous campus renovations and bond history at https://www.ecisd.net/Page/14622

1. East Central High School is only at 82% of its full capacity and can accommodate growth until 2029. The capacity formulas for schools differentiates between elementary, middle and high school, but is determined by total classroom square footage as established by Texas Administrative Code 61.1036, which sets the total square feet required. Architects then apply this formula to determine student capacity.
2. The industry standard is that a school is considered over capacity when it is at 120% of functional capacity. The reason for that overage is that in order to justify opening a new campus, staffing it, powering it, etc., you have to have enough students to populate that school and not be running two schools at 50%.
3. Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), conducted a comprehensive demographic study for East Central ISD in 2020 and 2022. The data and recommendations from PASA show what our projected enrollment is year to year, and when that campus will reach 120% over the capacity threshold. This information was presented to the Facilities Committee for them to use as a basis for driving decisions on what to include in Bond 2021, and now Bond 2022.
4. Furthermore, Tradition elementary will reach 120% capacity by next year, if not sooner. They are almost at the average enrollment of a middle school and still growing.
5. In some cases, large class sizes are due to lack of additional classes/teachers to make smaller classes. The intent of the 2022 Bond is to alleviate this congestion.
6. ECISD will then be able to begin planning the next bond potentially in the next 4-6 years to address the high school capacity.
7. The high school will cost significantly more than the lower level schools and therefore could not be included in this bond.
8. The high school is getting some expansion for the CTE programs on this bond, allowing them more space for their programs with the construction of a new building.
9. Historically, bonds address different campuses on a rotating schedule.

Qualifying disabled veterans and residents with an over-65 homestead exemption had their taxes frozen when their exemption was granted (unless improvements or additions were made). Anyone who needs more information about the exemption should call the Bexar County Appraisal District at (210) 224-8511 and ask for the Exemption Department or go to the appraisal district’s website at bcad.org

A new elementary school in the north will be completed by the 2024-25 school year. An elementary school to the south and a third district middle school will be added in 2026-27. 

Students will be housed on their campus during construction/renovation projects. Renovation projects will be conducted in a manner that will keep students and staff safe. Areas that are being affected will be cordoned off with construction walls and barricades.

If you’d like to schedule an informative bond presentation for your group/organization, please call the Office of the Superintendent at 210-648-7861.