Enrollment continues to increase in Crosby ISD, with many elementary campuses accommodating more students than the designed capacity of the campus. In addition, many district facilities are aging and require updates to building systems, safety features, and learning spaces. A bond would allow the district to address growth and long-term facility projects that are not funded through the regular operating budget.

State law separates school funding into two parts. Maintenance & Operations (M&O) funds pay for day-to-day costs, such as salaries and utilities. Large facility projects, like new construction, are funded through bonds, which require voter approval. Bond debt is repaid using a separate tax rate called Interest & Sinking (I&S). This is why the district uses a bond, rather than the regular operating budget, to pay for large facility projects.

Yes. Over the past decade, Crosby ISD’s total tax rate has decreased, even as property values have grown.

If the bond does not pass, the district would continue to operate current facilities and address only the most urgent items as funding allows. Major renovations and new facilities would be delayed.

If approved, project planning would begin after the election. Construction would occur in phases over multiple years.

Projects were recommended by a community committee, the Long-Range Planning Team, and reviewed by the Board of Trustees before being placed on the ballot.

Bond funds must stay within the purposes voters approved. If costs or circumstances change, the district can adjust project scope or timelines, but any changes require Board action and must remain within the purposes approved in the election. Bond funds cannot be redirected to purposes outside what voters approved, such as salaries, utilities, or daily operations.

Texas school districts are required by state law to follow specific rules when hiring construction companies for bond-funded projects. These rules help ensure fair competition, financial accountability, and quality work on public facilities.

Companies must generally meet these requirements to be eligible:

• Be properly registered to do business in Texas

• Hold required state licenses for specialized trades (such as electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work)

• Carry required insurance, including general liability and workers' compensation coverage

• Provide payment and performance bonds, as required by state law for public contracts

• Show relevant experience with similar construction projects, including prior work for public school districts when applicable

• Provide financial references demonstrating the ability to complete the project

• Disclose any conflicts of interest with district officials, as required under Texas law

We have not selected an architecture firm for the proposed projects. Should the bond pass, the District will follow District policy to select an architecture firm for those projects. See Board Policy CH (Legal) and (Local).

There are a number of possibilities which will be discussed after the comprehensive building evaluation is completed at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

The District will evaluate a number of possibilities to address anticipated growth in student population. For example, a recent quote for site work and the purchase of a four-classroom portable building at Newport Elementary School was approximately $1,072,500.

The District hired Pfluger to assist the District with communicating the facts about the bond, not architectural services. The District’s community survey after the 2023 bond revealed that most voters had not heard a great deal about the bond proposition. The District’s goal was to improve outreach for this bond.

The estimated timeline for the elementary school is approximately two years, should the bond pass. It is projected for two years because the District has already purchased the land.

The estimated timeline for the new middle school is approximately three years, should the bond pass. It is projected for three years because the District has not yet purchased land.

For comparison, the Sixth Grade Campus is set to open for the 2027-2028 school year. The District already owned that land, and the project timeline was approximately two years to complete.

The District recently completed the high school expansion under budget, making construction choices to save the District money. Further, the District will give public updates at Board meetings with the opportunity for public comment, and will compile information regarding construction costs and facility upgrades on a newly created bond construction webpage.