Fort Bend ISD approves largest ever bond referendum of $992 million

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Fort Bend ISD trustees have called for a vote on what could be the biggest bond in district history.

The board approved a $992 million bond referendum to go on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The referendum will include rebuilding, adding to several campuses and upgrading security.

"We're going to create a new operations center where we want to house a wide variety of people who can identify threats and respond in a more timely manner," FBISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said.

The $992 million bond will fund the first of a two-phase, six-year plan to address capital needs in the district, which is expected to serve more than 85,000 students by 2027.

The bond also includes:

• $403.4 million for new construction, rebuilds and additions, including the construction of three elementary campuses, design of one middle school, construction of one high school, the rebuild of Lakeview Elementary and Meadows Elementary, and additions at Madden Elementary and Neill Elementary.

• $396.5 million to address life-cycle deficiencies and educational adequacy across the district.

• $14.9 million to fund safety and security upgrades and investments.

• $10.6 million for transportation.

• $142.6 million for technology.

• $19.7 million for future land purchases.

After this proposed bond expires, voters will decide on another similar bond for the next three years.

"Initially, the plan was about $1.7 billion and we were going to try to do the whole thing in one bond election and make it work over six years," Dupre explained. "But we realized that was just too much for our community."