CYPRESS TEXAS — CFISD’s long-range planning committee presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees during a special-called meeting on Feb. 4 for a bond package that would meet the following needs for the school district through the year 2025: instructional and support facilities; safety and security; transportation; technology; and facilities renovations and additions.

Consultants Tony Chojnowski, left, and Ross Greves of True North Consulting Group provide safety and security recommendations to CFISD’s Long-Range Planning Committee during a Jan. 8 meeting at the Instructional Support Center. The LRPC recommended safety and security enhancements totaling $207,656,706 to the Board of Trustees during a special-called meeting on Feb. 4.

Chaired by community member Julie Hinaman, the long-range planning committee featured broad-based geographic, ethnic and age representation by 50 members located throughout the Cypress-Fairbanks community. The committee met for seven weeks from November-January to develop a long-range plan recommendation that:

• considers the educational needs of students;
• provides a solution for the new facility and transportation needs precipitated by the district’s growth;
• provides a solution for facility renovations, security modifications, technology and technology infrastructure needs;
• ensures support for a quality education for all students;
• reflects community values and perceptions of needs; and
• is fiscally sound.

The long-range planning committee presented a bond package recommendation totaling $1,762,000,000 for the following district needs:

• Instructional and support facilities ($258,208,345), including:
  • a new elementary school (No. 59) and a new middle school (No. 20);
  • a performing arts center;
  • a maintenance storage facility; and
  • an instructional support center.
• Safety and security enhancements ($207,656,706) including:
  • o security for open-concept floor plans in elementary schools;
  • o impact-resistant glass on doors and high-traffic areas;
  • o fencing around portable buildings and playgrounds;
  • o metal detectors;
  • o upgraded intrusion detection panels and prop alarms; and
  • o new police vehicles and radios;
• Transportation ($88,162,655) including:
  • a 12-year bus replacement schedule;
  • buses to accommodate student growth;
  • a new northwest transportation center; and
  • replacement of existing GPS hardware;
• Technology ($238,980,763) including:
  • replacement cycle of classroom technology;
  • classroom technology and technology infrastructure to accommodate student growth;
  • wireless devices for classroom technology;
  • elementary large-group sound systems; and
  • special education technology;
• Facilities renovations and additions ($968,991,531) including:
  • additions to the CFISD Exhibit Center and Westgreen Ag-Science Center;
  • relocation of the Maybelline Carpenter Center;
  • repurpose of the old Windfern campus and addition to the new Windfern campus;
  • career and technical education (CTE) additions including new welding, HVAC and culinary arts classrooms;
  • fine arts enhancements including expansion of art and music rooms, black box theater additions and renovations, orchestra rehearsal space and storage and band director towers;
  • athletics enhancements including renovation of baseball and softball fields and additional tennis courts;
  • asset protection needs valued with Priority 1 and 2 rankings; and
  • Cy-Fair High School multi-campus site drainage and traffic remediation.

Committee members offer feedback during a Long-Range Planning Committee meeting in the Board Room in January

The projected impact on the Interest and Sinking (I&S), or debt service tax rate (currently 40 cents per $100 of property valuation), would result in an incremental change of up to $0.03 over a seven-year period. Using a home valued at $200,000 as an example, this would equate to a maximum annual I&S tax increase of $40.50 by the year 2025. There would be no tax increase for individuals who are 65 years of age or older or who are disabled and who qualify for an over-65 homestead exemption according to Texas Property Tax Code Section 11.26.

A detailed presentation of the long-range planning committee’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees can be found on the district website.

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