RRISD Bonds

Every single campus will be impacted by this bond in some way. Some of the priorities are due to years of deferred maintenance while other campuses are receiving exciting new expansions of buildings and services. Nearly two thirds of the line items in this bond address deferred maintenance. The projects in these bonds are primarily “needs” over “wants”.

The bond focuses on addressing deficiencies that impact students’ health, safety, or learning environment, including replacing facilities heavily worn by use or age, leading to long-term cost savings and improved conditions for students.

• Roofing – We have had extreme weather over the past few years and many of these roofs have reached the end of their useful life.
• Turf Conversions/Installations – Turf has a lifespan of about 10 years, depending on usage and condition, and we have fields that are due for replacing. Athletics staff expressed a strong desire to switch to turf at every middle school and high school baseball and softball fields for easier maintenance and to stay competitive with nearby districts. While some studies suggest turf is less safe than grass fields, our grass fields cannot be maintained to the high standards used in those comparisons, making them more prone to causing injury. Additionally, advancements in turf technology show that injury rates between grass and turf are narrowing.
• Purchase District Wide CTE Center – Electrical Trades, Cosmetology, Auto Body, Early Childhood, Robotics Spaces, Families In Transition, 18+ Center, Welcome Center
  • Current demand for these programs exceeds capacity and many students cannot participate due to transport and scheduling difficulties. These programs are all high-skill, high-wage, in-demand and show projected growth over the next 10 years and the district would receive additional funding from TEA for these programs.
  • Creates new spaces for FiT students to learn skills and access resources needed for their transition into life past school.
• Safety and Security Upgrades/Equipment – includes fencing for 41 campuses, Districtwide Emergency Notification system, and new door hardware. HB3 is an unfunded mandate from the state that compels school districts to have at least one officer on each campus. Round Rock ISD will need to hire, train, and equip 70+ officers within the next five years to comply. This bond will fund the resources needed to support the growth of RRISD Police Department.
• Refresh and Expansion of Elementary, Middle and High School Robotics Equipment and Tools – increasing demand in robotics education, prepares our students for an evolving industry
• Portables – To add safety and a sense of well-being to our classrooms, permanent or semi-permanent building structures will be added to several campuses to replace portables.
• Round Rock High School Deferred Maintenance – originally built in 1971, Round Rock High School has several outdated buildings with unsafe asbestos and storm damage. The high school rapidly expanded to serve its growing population, resulting in a large sprawling campus where safety is a concern and there is not enough parking. These projects include a holistic approach to the campus improvements.

The careers these students are entering post graduation are heavily reliant on commuter literacy and technology. We need to have current technology to keep up with the world. Texas law requires that all standardized testing, such as the STAAR test, be completed on a computer.

• Devices – Majority of school operations and instruction are done through digital means. Many of the support devices in our schools and classrooms are outdated and need to be replaced. Student chromebooks are at the end of their life cycle and every student needs a new one. Wireless networks on campuses across the district are slow, which inhibits student learning. By upgrading the infrastructure, we can have efficient internet for our students and staff. Many of these replacement items will be purchased in a few years, so this allows us to have funding to replace equipment and systems as they reach the end of their lifecycle.

We have a diverse student body with varying talents and interests. Supporting fine arts programs also improve academic performance, mental well-being, and prepare students for diverse career paths, enriching both individual lives and society as a whole.

• All three PACs need infrastructure repairs and improvements.
• Dance – Building dedicated facilities for dance programs at several campuses, including Stony Point High School, which is currently the only high school without a dance studio. Many middle schools are receiving improvements to their current facilities.

There are many student groups that utilize the stadiums: cheer, dance, ROTC, soccer, track and field, football, and 10% of the high school student population participates in band alone. All of these students participate in “pass to play”, which means that all of the students must maintain passing grades in order to participate. Additionally, it enhances their overall well-being by promoting physical fitness, reducing stress, and building self-confidence. Being part of a team helps students feel connected to their school community and develop lasting friendships, which strengthens their sense of inclusion and support.

• Kelly Reeves Stadium was built in 2003 and has not seen any updates or improvements in its 20 years of operations. It is in need of basic maintenance and safety and security upgrades.
• Dragon Stadium has necessary repairs, however the law requires that we also bring the building into ADA compliance if we make any changes. 
• Construction of a new facility on the A.W. Grimes property will eliminate the need for Thursday night games, which allows students to focus on their studies during the school week. Building the new stadium addresses an equity issue in that east side students and families do not have to travel across the district for their games. This stadium will also provide a competition level track, which the district currently does not have.