A 2025 Bond Program

The Board is asking voters to consider one proposition (Proposition A) that, if approved, would provide funds to significantly upgrade aging athletics facilities at Memorial, Northbrook, Spring Woods and Stratford high schools.

These facilities are utilized for whole-school events in addition to serving as competition and/or practice venues for athletics, performing arts, and cheer. 

INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS:

Based on the specific needs of each campus, funds would address:

• gym renovations (and reconstruction where needed to ensure all high schools have at least one 94' competition-sized gym in alignment with UIL standards)
• new sound systems, digital video boards and interior lighting upgrades
• renovations and improvements to locker rooms, weight rooms, storage spaces and athletics offices.

EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS:

Based on the specific needs of each campus, funds would address:

• conversion of baseball and softball fields to synthetic turf (including batting cages, dugouts, fencing, netting and pole systems)
• conversion of synthetic turf of one practice field to allow access to two synthetic turf fields per campus
• replacement or upgrades to stands, press boxes, support buildings, concessions, and restrooms
• additional tennis courts where need so each campus has eight tennis courts
• new LED sports lighting, scoreboards, sound systems and digital video boards. 

Take a look at the proposed work by high school:

• Memorial High School Information Sheet (.pdf)
• Northbrook High School Information Sheet (.pdf)
• Spring Woods High School Information Sheet (.pdf)
• Stratford High School Information Sheet (.pdf)

Proposition B, if approved, would provide for major renovations and additions to the 59-year-old Darrell Tully Stadium and the 51-year-old Don Coleman Coliseum.

If approved, Darrell Tully Stadium (Tully) would receive major renovations and additions. Tully was originally built in 1966 and is the site for varsity football, high school and middle school soccer, and high school club lacrosse and rugby. The facility would be downsized to seat 10,000 (from the current 14,500) and would provide:

• new home and visitor side stadium buildings, including new restrooms and concessions;
• upgraded sports lighting and audio/visual systems and a new digital video board;
• a designated band plaza and access ramps for band, drill teams and cheerleaders;
• a new elevator tower, a new press box, and a central ticketing checkpoint for home and visitor sides.

At the 51-year-old Don Coleman Coliseum (DCC) improvements would be made to address safety and security with new secure entry vestibules, new concession and restroom upgrades, replacement of the roof, and additional meeting space.

View proposed work for

• Darrell Tully Stadium
• Don Coleman Coliseum

Proposition C, if approved, would provide funds to rebuild and relocate the 50-year old W.W. Emmons Natatorium (The Natatorium), the district's only competition pool. 

This pool facility, built in 1974, is outdated and too small to accommodate the full range of high school practice and competition needs of the district's competitive swimming, diving and water polo teams and instructional swimming for the district's elementary and middle school students.

The Natatorium would be rebuilt north of Darrell Tully Stadium on the grounds of the district’s athletics complex at 1050 Dairy Ashford, 77079.

View proposed work for

• W.W. Emmons Natatorium

Proposition D, if approved, would provide major renovations and rebuilding of Reggie Grob Stadium (Grob), the district's oldest athletics facility, built in 1952.

• The 73-year-old stadium currently accommodates 4,000 spectators. Improvements would increase seating capacity to 5,500, thereby expanding the types of sporting events and competitions, including varsity football, that could occur at the facility. 
• Grob is currently used for middle school football and soccer, as well as high school club lacrosse. 
• The facility is also used by our community and community partners.

View proposed work for

• Reggie Grob Stadium

• Trustees called the May 2025 Bond Election to address the needs of the district's aging central athletic facilities and the significant interior and exterior athletic facilities needs at each of the district's comprehensive high schools.
• Previous bonds approved by voters in 2007 and 2017 have primarily focused on the rebuilding of elementary schools, with the start of rebuild secondary schools included in the 2017 Bond. Also included in prior bonds have been needed upgrades to technology and our bus fleet. The 2022 Bond focused on Career and Technical Education. As a result, the facilities included in the 2025 Bond proposal - four comprehensive high school campus facilities and central athletics facilities, which average 58 years old, are now woefully out of date, in need of major renovation or rebuilding and insufficient to meet the athletics and arts programming needs now and for the future.
• The district is having to spend general fund dollars for repair and maintenance of these facilities. As an example, for athletic contests with large crowds, porta-potties must be brought in at Tully stadium and a plumber must always be on site during games due to the age of the stadium's plumbing infrastructure. This maintenance need alone is estimated to cost about $25,000 annually.
• The facilities are not able to accommodate certain UIL competitions, for example, marching band, putting our students at a disadvantage. Because of their age and condition, these facilities are also limited for rental and advertising purposes, minimizing not only potential general fund revenue, but also the ability to meet the needs of our students and community club and league competitions.
• Additionally, with school choice on the horizon in Texas, having facilities that are current and functional is important for SBISD to compete to attract and retain families, students and staff. These facilities are most often the gateway for the community at large and the first locations where individuals interact with the district. They are the places our community comes together to watch our students and showcase their talents.

• In August, 2024, the Board of Trustees asked district administration to conduct a facilities review of the district’s aging central athletics facilities and the interior and exterior athletic facilities at our district’s four comprehensive high schools. A comprehensive assessment of targeted facilities was conducted by architects, engineers and other facility experts at PBK and PBK Sports in coordination with district operations staff as well as central and campus-based leaders and athletics and performing arts staff.
• As the proposed bond program was developed over a number of meetings in late Fall 2024 through early February 2025 and the proposed projects under each proposition were refined, a third party estimator was engaged by the architects to ensure the pricing of each project was aligned with industry standards for construction costs, soft costs and estimated inflation factors.
• An Athletics and Arts Stakeholder Committee comprised of students, parents, partners and district staff provided input and feedback as trustees considered options to best address the needs associated with these aging facilities.

View SBISD Athletics and Arts Stakeholder Committee (AASC) resources below.

Presentations

• Board workshop meeting - Oct. 7, 2024
  • Discussion for Future Facilities Planning - Financial/Legal Information
  • Athletics and Arts Capital Improvements Plan
• Board workshop meeting (Retreat) - Dec. 13, 2024
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Board meeting video
• Board workshop meeting - Jan. 7, 2025
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Board meeting video
• Board special meeting - Jan. 13, 2025
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Board meeting video
• Board special meeting - Jan. 23, 2025
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Video
• Board regular meeting - Jan. 29, 2025
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Video
• Board workshop meeting - Feb. 5, 2025
  • Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (Assessment Process and Update)
  • Video

Visit the AASC page.

• The Interest and Sinking, or Debt Service Fund is totally separate from the General Fund. 
• The budget reductions were made on the operating, or general fund, side of the district budget. The state controls the amount of revenue SBISD retains in the general fund, and the district continues to be subject to recapture as a Chapter 49 district.  As such, there are not sufficient general fund dollars to address the needs of these aging facilities. Debt service funds stay in the district and are “recapture-proof.”

• Two tax rates paid by Spring Branch ISD property owners comprise the local share of district funds.
• The district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Tax Rate for the 2024 tax year ($0.7719) pays for day-to-day operational expenses such as salaries, employee benefits, supplies, transportation, fuel, insurance, general maintenance and utilities. No bond money will be used to cover these operating costs.
• The Interest and Sinking (I&S) Tax Rate for the 2024 tax year ($0.3045) is based on the outstanding debt of the district. Debt is incurred when a district borrows money in the form of bonds.
• SBISD’s tax rate for the 2024 tax year of $1.0764 per $100 of assessed valuation represents the lowest district tax rate since 1987. 

• SBISD’s total tax rate for the 2024 tax year, is $1.0764 per $100 of assessed valuation ($0.7719 M&O +$0.3045 I&S) and represents the lowest district tax rate since 1987. 

• Spring Branch ISD homeowners pay the second lowest school taxes in the Houston area. SBISD is one of the few districts that offers every exemption allowed by law, including the full 20 percent local homestead exemption.

• Spring Branch ISD property owners will continue to pay school property taxes that include both a maintenance and operations (M&O) portion and an interest and sinking (I&S), or debt service portion. The tax year 2024 I&S portion of your total tax rate is $0.3045 per $100 of assessed valuation.
• Assuming all propositions pass, the maximum anticipated tax rate increase would be .0475 cents per $100 of valuation, based on a conservative estimate of taxable property value growth.
• For a $500,000 home, the estimated annual additional tax burden would be $142.50 for a $500,000 home. 
• A property owner's tax burden (total tax paid) may change based on the appraised value of their property.

• The Bond issue will not affect the tax bill or the amount of taxes paid for anyone disabled or 65 or older with a homestead exemption.

• Not one cent. All funds for school sites and construction must come from the sale of bonds approved by residents of the district.

• Bonds will be sold through negotiated sales and in installments as funds are needed.
• We expect all bonds will be sold within five years.

• Not one penny. Bond funds are not subject to recapture, now known as local revenue in excess of entitlement. All bond funds approved by district voters will remain in SBISD to directly benefit our children.

Here is the formula based on a home valued at $500,000: 

FORMULA*
$500,000 x .8 = $400,000 (Accounts for the 20 percent local optional homestead exemption)
- $100,000 (Reduction to account for the state $100,000 homestead exemption)
= $300,000 (Divided by 100 to account for the valuation per $100 of valuation)
X 0.0475 (Anticipated maximum tax rate increase per hundred dollars of valuation)
= $142.50 (Total anticipated maximum tax rate increase)

*Based on current law as of January 1, 2025.

• Based on current law and a conservative estimate of property value growth, it is likely that any future bond proposal would require a tax rate increase. The specific amount would depend on the size of the proposed future bond package, the interest rate scenario and other factors.  
• If all 4 propositions under the 2025 Bond program are approved by the voters in May 2025, the maximum anticipated tax rate increase is estimated to be .0475 cents per $100 of valuation.

Each proposition includes not only the estimated construction costs of ($422.6 million), but also soft costs ($105.6 million) that include items such as professional fees; furniture, fixtures and equipment; technology; survey/testing; administrative and management; and contingency) and inflation/cost escalation ($103.2 million). View agenda item 4C Continued Discussion of Future Facilities Planning (slide 41) for full details.  https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/889?meeting=674179

SBISD typically issues bonds with a 24 -25 year maturity. For shorter-lived assets, like some technology, the maturity of related bonds is typically  matched to the life of the asset. For longer-lived assets, it may be up to 30 years.

View a summary document of each proposition at the 2025 Bond website here: https://www.springbranchisd.com/about/2025bond/home

View the estimated timeline for bidding of projects at the link below. Please note this timeline assumes all propositions pass. If not all propositions pass, the timeline may be adjusted accordingly. https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/889?meeting=674179

• The district has begun the 12-18-month process to develop required educational specifications and design and construction standards for all renovation and new construction projects.
• The district’s next step will be to engage architects and engineers to conduct the complete facility reviews and assessments of all district facilities that is precursory to a future bond. 
• The 2017 Bond was slated to be about a ten-year bond program. It is anticipated the next major bond for educational facilities may occur around 2028. However, that decision would ultimately be up to a future board of trustees to determine scope and timing for a future bond project. 

• The proposed 2025 Bond targets the interior and exterior athletic facilities at our four comprehensive high schools and at our central athletic facilities. Our gyms serve as the classrooms and performance spaces for many of these groups.  Dance, cheer, flag corps and drill teams practice in the gyms daily, and perform in these spaces as well as the central facilities.
• New high school band towers, based on needs, are included for the high schools, and a new band plaza is included for Darrell Tully Stadium, where all marching band, dance, drill team, cheer, and flag corps students would be congregate to enter the stadium and prepare for performances.
• Based on the current configuration of Darrell Tully Stadium with only the south side field entry and exit, and the configuration of viewing areas the facility does not meet the specifications required to host UIL competitions for these programs. Thus, our students cannot participate in UIL competitions on their home field.

SBISD is not currently under contract with any firm for professional services related to any proposed projects in the proposed 2025 Bond as the bond election has not yet concluded. If one or more of the four proposed bond propositions are approved by SBISD voters, the SBISD Operations Department would work with the District’s Procurement Department, to review qualifications from various architectural and engineering firms that specialize in sports and athletics related work and conduct one-on-one interviews with  “short listed” firms. Following this process, the Operations Department would bring forward for the Board of Trustees’ consideration and approval a list of architects, engineers and consultant firms for possible use under the 2025 Bond Program.

In the 2023-24 school year, approximately 7,600 secondary students (or about half of our middle and high school students) participated in athletics, and about 6,700 students were enrolled in performing arts. 

119,771 tickets were sold for athletics events over the 2023-24 school year. SBISD hosted 1, 248 games or events including at home high school games, and games or other events hosted at Tully Stadium, Don Coleman Colisuem, Reggie Grob Stadium and the W.W. Emmons Natatorium. (Does not include pass attendance for 65+ residents who hold Star Cards, and faculty, staff and administrators and their families.) This also does not include attendance at the SBISD graduation events held at Don Coleman Coliseum for which no ticket is required.

To date, SBISD has invested nearly $26 million in fine and performing arts programming under the 2017 and 2022 bond programs and use of unallocated interest. Read more at this link.

• SBISD Board of Trustees Calls for May 3 Bond Election

• Read our special community mailer (.pdf)