Alvin ISD Citizen's Advisory
Committee makes recommendations of future bond projects to the Alvin ISD Board
of Trustees, including a call for the construction of High School #3 in the
Shadow Creek Ranch (Pearland) area.
In an effort to involve members of
the community in planning for the future of Alvin ISD, a group of approximately
60 Alvin/Manvel/Pearland citizens, including parents, business leaders,
District personnel, as well as a local councilman served on the Citizen’s
Advisory Committee (CAC).
The CAC has worked diligently over
the past seven months conducting intensive studies of historical demographic
data, student enrollment, growth trends, facility needs, and development plans
within the community. The purpose of the CAC was to evaluate the need for and
the scope of a future bond referendum, and make recommendations for facilities
that consider the educational needs of all students, provide a solution for
facility needs brought on by the District’s growth, is fiscally sound, and
reflects community wants and needs.
After receiving the results from
the community phone survey that was recently conducted to obtain feedback from
Alvin ISD citizens, the committee met on June 16 and determined that a
recommendation in favor of a future bond referendum be made to the Board of
Trustees.
The committee, who were charged by
the Board of Trustees to establish recommended projected for facilities and
land purchases, was led by co-chairs David Becker, Alvin High School parent,
and Paul Ingamells, Shadow Creek Ranch resident and parent. “Over the
past five years, Alvin ISD enrollment has increased by an average of 800-900
students per year, and is projected to continue for the next five years. In
2011 the CAC recommended that the District not move forward with a bond
referendum due to the economic climate, which in turn has increased the current
needs of the District,” said Becker.
During the 2013-14 school year it
is expected that six elementary campuses, Alvin Elementary, Hood-Case, Mason,
Savannah Lakes, Stevenson and Wilder will exceed permanent building capacity.
Three elementary campuses, Jeter, Marek, & Twain Elementary will exceed
flex capacity. During the upcoming school year Alvin Junior High will exceed
permanent building capacity, and Nolan Ryan Junior High will exceed both
permanent and flex capacity. Manvel High School will also exceed permanent and
flex capacity with continuing growth also anticipated.
Due to sustained growth, the CAC
recommended that a new elementary (number 16) be built, that Longfellow
Elementary be replaced, and that in light of rising land costs, the District
prepare for continued growth by purchasing land and design for elementary
number 17, and land for elementary number 18. The CAC also recommended that a
new junior high school be built in the Manvel area, that Alvin Junior High
School be renovated and expanded, and that the District purchase land for
junior high number seven.
In addition the CAC also suggested
that high school number three be built on the previously purchased land from
the 2009 bond in the Pearland area, as well as provide funds for the design of
a future Career and Technical Education Facility, along with the building of a
new agriculture facility in closer proximity to Alvin High School. Other
recommendations include funding for campus safety and security projects,
additional school buses, technology needs, upgrades for campus and facility
improvements, band instruments for all secondary campuses, and the purchasing
of land and design for a future facility that would accommodate an additional
District athletic stadium, satellite transportation facility and a District
Natatorium (The current Manvel High School campus and future High School Number
3 campus do not have a varsity competition football stadium or natatorium.)
“We are truly appreciative of each
of the citizens who came together to form the CAC, and provided the Board of
Trustees with recommendations. I am confident that the CAC recommendations took
into consideration the District’s increasing student population. As a
Board, we will carefully consider each of their recommendations,” said Tiffany
Wennerstrom, Alvin ISD Board of Trustees president.
“On behalf of the CAC, we
appreciate the Board for entrusting this committee of community members to
conduct an in-depth study and bring recommendations to the Board,” mentioned
Ingamells.
The final decision for a future
bond referendum and the projects that it will contain is at the sole discretion
of the AISD Board of Trustees. The Board will convene by August to determine if
a November election will indeed be held. To stay informed of the most
up-to-date information in regards to the growth of Alvin ISD, and a possible
bond election visit www.alvinisd.net.
