Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Early Voting April 25 – May 3

Voting by mail: applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than April 26, 2022, by 5 p.m.

The seven-member Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday, February 7, 2022, to call a $381.6 million bond election to appear on the May 7, 2022, ballot.

The Board is asking voters to consider a proposition that responds to the commitment made as part of the 2017 Bond Program to develop the vision for a world-class Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and the facility improvements needed to move toward that vision. CTE is the bridge that connects students’ education to the world of work through challenging career programs of study, providing coherent sequences of courses that develop students’ skills through engaging classroom learning and real-world experiences.

The proposition, if approved, would provide funding to rebuild the Guthrie Center, SBISD’s central CTE facility; and make classroom, lab and facility improvements at Guthrie’s Agricultural Science Center, four SBISD high schools, six middle schools and two specialty campuses. The bond money also would fund CTE-related technology. Bond funds would also address identified district facility needs including additional classrooms at Valley Oaks Elementary and new building detention and code requirements put into place after Hurricane Harvey.  

A separate technology proposition, if approved, would provide funds to update and replace devices for secondary students districtwide, and devices for teachers districtwide.

This action comes after the development of a CTE long-range facilities plan and the creation of a Bond Advisory Committee. 

In the spring and summer of 2021, a CTE Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee of parents, staff, community members, business representatives, higher education representatives, and students was convened to develop a CTE long-range facilities plan.

With that work done, in August 2021, the board approved the creation of a CTE Bond Advisory Committee made up of parents, staff, students, and community members from the district’s geographic areas and business communities, as well as those who may have served on prior bond and CTE committees or been involved with various CTE programs within the school district.

The CTE Bond Advisory Committee was tasked with developing a bond proposal package for recommendation to the Board of Trustees for improvements to CTE classrooms, labs and facilities. The recommendations were presented to Trustees in November 2021. The Board of Trustees considered these recommendations during a series of meetings in December, January and early February to develop the proposed bond package.

“In Spring Branch ISD, providing world-class CTE experiences for EVERY CHILD is a priority,” said Chris Gonzalez, SBISD Board of Trustees President. “These programs provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to be future-ready, for both a career AND college. This bond proposal would provide improvements to the existing programs and learning spaces as well as give more students access to the exciting and enriching opportunities CTE provides.”

The district does not expect any tax rate increase as a result of this bond election, if passed by voters. SBISD’s current total tax rate represents the lowest district tax rate since 2007-08; however, homeowner taxes may have increased based on property value.

SBISD offers every tax break allowed by law, including the full 20 percent homestead exemption. District homeowners have the second lowest tax burden in the Houston area. The annual school tax bill on a home valued at $500,000 is currently $4,891 in SBISD, compared to $5,009 in Cy-Fair ISD, $6,433 in Spring ISD, and $7,024 in Katy ISD.

By state law, there would be no tax increase for senior citizens 65 or over as a result of this bond election. The school tax rate and the amount paid are frozen when a taxpayer turns 65 years old.

“For 75 years, our community has continuously invested in our students and our schools,” said SBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Blaine. “This bond package provides an opportunity for our voters to sustain that legacy for our current students and the generations to come, while moving us toward meeting our shared vision for a world-class CTE program and T-2-4 for Every Child.”  

Learn more about the 2022 Bond.