by Nicole Bradford
Pearland ISD voters will have their say on $105 million in bond proposals on May 4, in addition to one trustee seat.
On the ballot will be $75 million in infrastructure improvements and $30 million in technology for the school district — both proposals were recommended by a bond advisory committee.
“Nobody wants to think about putting things on the credit card, but we are where we are partially because of the function of school finance, and partially because of choices made by other board members and superintendents 20 years ago,” Trustee Toni Carter said.
Technology bonds would be repaid in five years, while infrastructure bonds would be repaid over 25 years. Funded through debt service vs. the general fund, the bonds would not require a tax increase if approved, district administrators said.
Among infrastructure needs are HVAC systems, roofing, plumbing, electrical and fire safety systems, parking lot, painting, and interior building work.
“Because of our operating budget, we really work on a deferred maintenance plan, not a proactive maintenance plan, not a preventative maintenance plan,” Superintendent Larry Berger said at the Feb. 13 board meeting. “We only had the budget to fix things when they broke. We have the opportunity right now not to raise taxes and go out and take care of these needs because they are needs.”
The costs to maintain and patch obsolete HVAC equipment are now outweighing the benefit of replacing them, he said.
“If we do not do these things, we have to spend our operating budget to correct and fix them,” Berger said.
Technology needs include student devices, labs, servers, storage, networking, and data centers.
Trustee Kris Schoeffler voted against calling the technology bond election, citing philosophical differences, among other reasons.
“I don’t think technology in front of the kids all day every day is good,” he said. “I don’t think it’s healthy for them. I may be the Lone Ranger on that item.”
Pearland ISD voters in November 2023 approved a tax rate that reduced the district’s $11 million budget deficit to $3.7 million.
If the technology bonds pass, it would put more than $6 million back into the operating budget by refunding a recent purchase of student devices, Berger said.
In the May board election, Trustees Crystal Carbone and Sean Murphy have both filed for reelection for Position No. 3 and Position No. 4, respectively. Air Force veteran Jenny Francis and pastor Terrence Campbell have both filed for Position No. 6, currently held by retired educator Robert Richter, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Lance Botkin.
The results of the election will be canvassed on May 14.
