CAC Recommendations

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.