Following voter approval of the 2022 Bond in May, Belton ISD staff have been diligently working to move forward with all projects and ensure they are all delivered as efficiently as possible for our students, while minimizing disruptions to the learning environments and maximizing taxpayer dollars. 

In all, Belton ISD voters authorized nearly $173,825,000 million in bond funding to address accelerated student growth and aging facilities, safety and security, and ensure student access to exceptional learning environments.

Belton ISD is moving forward to deliver on all projects as promised, and construction is already underway on one of the new schools included in the bond. Other projects are in the programming and design stages, which occur prior to construction. Projects in the programming and/or design stage include classroom additions, the expansion of the district’s agricultural facility; a facility for the Delta Program, which supports students with special needs transitioning to adult independent living and work; security cameras and keyless entries; and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and roofing projects.

In general, renovation and construction projects are completed in three stages, including programming, design, and construction.

As a part of this response, please describe what happens during the following three phases:

Programming: During the programming stage, district officials collaborate with campus leaders and other stakeholders to assess needs and options, and schedule project phases. 

Design: During the design phase, architects and engineers work collaboratively with district and campus stakeholders and the construction manager as they develop the design drawings and specifications for the project. Once the construction documents are finalized, the district’s construction manager sends the project out for competitive bidding and the architect pursues building permits for the project.

Construction: Active visual work is happening at the construction site/facility.

The Belton ISD Bond Oversight Committee consists of parents, students and community members who will meet on a regular basis to review bond projects, spending and schedules during the implementation of the 2022 Bond. 

The Belton ISD Board of Trustees appointed 12 members to the newly-formed committee in August of 2022, and the committee held its first meeting in September. 

The committee will meet four times a year and meeting agendas and presentations are posted online. You can learn more about the Bond Oversight Committee and review the presentations on the Belton ISD Bond webpage.

The 2022 Bond included funding for technology infrastructure improvements, as well as devices for students and staff. 

Infrastructure 

Prop A addressed replacing out-of-date technology infrastructure, so that Belton ISD can replace antiquated equipment, increase the network speed and ensure a dependable wifi-network throughout the district. Belton ISD’s Technology Department is currently collaborating with the Business and Finance Department to ensure the district is maximizing all funding sources, including rebates from the federal government, prior to any purchases or improvements. 

Devices

Prop B addressed purchasing new student and staff devices. Based on the age of the current items in circulation, the district plans a purchasing rollout in 2023. 

The 2022 Bond Program included funding for approximately $6 million in safety enhancements, including playground fall protection, safety vestibules, keyless access locks, campus security fencing, and renovations to the Sparta Elementary pickup and drop off area. Other planned enhancements include exterior lighting and security camera additions and replacements, bottle refill stations and intercom system repair or replacement.

Several Belton ISD departments are collaborating closely to complete this work and anticipate that the construction of security vestibules and the installation of playground fall protection will begin in 2023. 

In the meantime, Belton ISD has conducted assessments of all exterior lighting throughout the district to identify areas where lighting needs to be added or replaced, and departments are collaborating to ensure the alignment of existing security cameras and any additional cameras purchased for new and current facilities. 

The district is also closely monitoring new developments from the Texas School Safety Center, as they make recommendations regarding the installation of shatter-proof film and perimeter fencing.

Leading up to the 2022 Bond, Belton ISD developed an initial mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and roofing project list using priority one needs identified in the 2021 comprehensive facilities assessment completed by HPM. Several of the MEP projects have been included in the addition and renovation projects at Belton High School, Lake Belton Middle School, and Southwest Elementary. The MEP needs at the other campuses and departments are being prioritized for implementation. Availability of equipment, parts, and inflation will all play a role as Belton ISD prioritizes and moves forward with MEP project work.

Due to Belton ISD’s strong fiscal management, the district is able to deliver the bond projects with no increase to the overall tax rate. In fact, since the approval of the 2022 Bond in May, the Board of Trustees adopted a decrease in the tax rate for the fourth year in a row. The adopted rate of $1.3371 per $100 valuation is a two cent decrease from the prior year. Since 2018, Belton ISD has been able to lower the tax rate by 24 cents per $100 valuation, and we are proud that we are able to offer our students an exceptional learning experience while ensuring efficient use of our taxpayers’ dollars.

The district has already purchased 20 new buses using the voter-approved bond funding. Vendors indicate that some of these buses could arrive as soon as January 2023, with others to follow over the next several months.

Belton ISD encourages our community to stay updated on the 2022 Bond by visiting www.bisd.net/Bond_2022. We will also post updates on the District’s Facebook page. If you would like to receive updates on the BISD bond projects, email communications@bisd.net and we will add your contact information to our newsletter distribution lists.