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SHERIDAN — Rice CISD Superintendent Kenny Center and school board members welcomed community questions following a presentation about the proposed $55 million bond for a new consolidated elementary campus during a town hall, Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Sheridan Lions Club Hall.
POST ELECTION
What happens if the bond fails to pass?
Board member Nicole Owers said the financial situation will come down to closing or combining schools if the bond does not pass, noting some classrooms have already been combined.
“What I don’t want is people to vote no because you want to keep these small schools open, because that’s not going to happen,” Owers said.
Sheridan would be the first due to having the lowest campus population. Combining would likely mean students would have to be transported or travel to Eagle Lake instead of Altair under the bond.
What happens if the bond passes?
If voters approve the bond, design work would begin immediately and cont inue through 2027. Construction would begin in 2028, with the district targeting the 2029-30 school year for completion of the elementary campus and other bond projects. The district would likely sell the old campuses.
Can the district set restrictions on what happens to the schools if they sell them?
Yes. The board nor audience members suggested speci fic restrictions. The district would have to consult an attorney on setting restrictions.
Has the district been communicating with potential buyers?
“We have not reached out as a district for that. Those individuals have just reached out to us. We are not being proactive and doing anything along those lines,” Center said. “They may have just said, ‘Hey, if this goes through, we might be interested,” but that’s it.”
Officials previously noted county interest in the Garwood campus for police or fire and predicted that Splashway Waterpark will show interest in the Sheridan campus.
How would a buyer be selected?
Each property would go through a bidding process, and the district would solicit bids from multiple buyers. The school board would then review the bids and approve a bidder to sell the property to. The board does not have to approve the highest bidder if another option proves to be more beneficial to the community. Board members said they would consult the community before finalizing a selection.
Where would the money from the sales go?
Board President Jason Pausewang said they would have to consult with an attorney on what they could legally do with the money. Crowd suggestions included paying down the bond or funding instructional supplies.
What’s next for the junior high and high school?
Both the junior high and high school will undergo a facilities study as originally planned. The district decided to focus on the elementary schools first because of the bond discussions.
DECISION- MAKING
What was the process for coming up with the bond proposal?
Center said discussion and the process to address the district’s aging elementary facilities started with the 2024-2025 school year with the adoption of the first deficit budget in RCISD history. The school ended the fiscal year balanced, but the deficit prompted discussions during the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget about financially meeting all the district’s needs.
Center explained that the state legislature has reduced funding for public school districts over the years, dedicated around a $1 billion of educational funding to private schools and set allotments on what functions state funding can be utilized for, which often don’t cover costs.
The district adopted a deficit budget again for 2026-2027.
“We have to be conscious of some of the things that we need to do that we have been putting off down the road, Center said. “We have a healthy fund balance, our savings account to cover these, but we don’t want to rely on it all the way down the road, because at some point it will run out.”
Following the advice of legal counsel, the district started with a demographics study because state funding is dependent on average daily attendance, a stricter measure than enrollment. The study assessed enrollment trends, projected enrollment, household values and more. Center reported that elementary enrollment is expected to drop continuously over the next few years.
The district then completed a financial overview to calculate current operational costs, potential tax impacts and renovation/ construction costs. The district’s operating costs for all four elementary campuses exceeds costs of other similar districts by at least $1 million.
Seeking a more accurate measure of renovation costs, the district ordered a facilities study to investigate needed renovations and repairs, cost estimates for said repairs, state requirements and more for each campus.
Visit sites.google.com/riceraiders.net/rcisd2026bond to review campus breakdowns of the facilities study.
The district then assembled a Community Bond Advisory Committee to review the information, assess viable options and make project recommendations to the board.
How did the district gather community input throughout the process?
To review the background information and make a recommendation to the board, the district formed a Community Bond Advisory Committee. Each school board member contact members in their community to join the committee. The committee included district staff, former staff, former board members, parents and more.
The board heard public comments during its regularly scheduled board meetings and hosted two town halls in Sheridan and Garwood before the November election.
Financially, why consolidation instead of renovation?
Renovation would cost the district $66.9 million to $76.6 million—at least $20 million more than the cost of constructing a new campus, not factoring in unexpected costs.
“Something to keep in mind is, if you’ve ever done a remodel, when you think you’re going to be dealing with just these issues, are those the only issues you deal with? Of course not, other things come up,” Center said. “…Think about these aging buildings, you never know what else might come into play. This is just what we would know.”
Garwood Elementary School would cost $17.5 million to $20 million to renovate, about $153,510 to $175,440 per student. Sheridan Elementary School would cost $17.2 million to $19.2 million to renovate, about $200,000 to $223,255 per student. Eagle Lake Primary School would cost $15.9 million to $18.5 million to renovate, about $80,710 to $93,908 per student. Eagle Lake Intermediate School would cost $16.3 million to $18.9 million to renovate, about $105,160 to $121,935 per student.
Multiple campuses would require full HVAC system replacement, and two campuses have libraries smaller than state requirements. Center added that if 50% or more of a building is remodeled, then more state requirements and stricter standards would apply, driving costs up more, which were not included in the estimates.
The district estimates construction of the new elementary campus to cost $73,304 per student, a minimum of $7,000 less per student than renovating one out of four campuses.
If the bond passes, the district would save nearly $1 million in operating costs through consolidation.
How was the cost of renovations determined?
Renovation costs were determined through a facility study conducted by professional engineers under the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
Center noted that any buyers of the four campuses would not face the same costs and restrictions on renovations since they would not have to meet the same state guidelines.
Why is the district working with O’Connell Robertson?
O’Connell Robertson is a full-service architecture, engineering and interior design firm. “When they were hired by the district, they were not hired in an architectural capacity,” Center said. “They were hired in what is called a bond guidance committee, so they helped guide us through all this information that we pieced together… to present it to a bond committee.”
Why did the district schedule the initial bond presentation during Parents Night?
Center said scheduling is a challenge for seven board members, and the pressure of state deadlines for calling a bond created further difficulties. Additionally, a campus shifted the scheduling of its Parents Night. The board also tried to compensate by starting a little later than planned.
“It was a difficult decision, and we agree that may have not been the best day,” Center said. “…I wish there were a perfect response to that, but we felt it was extremely important for all seven members to be sitting there at that meeting to listen to this recommendation.”
FINANCES
How is the $55 million split up in the bond?
Of the $55 million proposal, $47.75 million would fund construction of the consolidated elementary school, $6.29 million would fund district renovations and high school security improvements, and $960,000 would expand the district’s school bus fleet.
How much more will I pay if the bond is approved?
If approved, the bond would increase the district’s tax rate by $0.303 per $100 of taxable value. Each homeowner’s RCISD bill will vary according to its valuation.
A homeowner with the district’s median property value of $151,240 and a $140,000 homestead exemption would pay an additional $2.83 per month or $24.06 per year.
Visit sites.google.com/riceraiders.net/rcisd2026bond to use a tax impact calculator.
What if I am a veteran / over 65 years old / disabled?
Homeowners under these categories receive tax exemptions and would not pay any more tax to Rice CISD if the bond passes.
These exemptions must be applied for through the county appraisal district and would not apply if new improvements are made to the property.
Why $55 million for the bond total?
The district looked at tax rate increases for bonds ranging from $20 million to the district’s current bond capacity of $65.275 million for the district’s median property value of $151,240. A $20 million bond would result in a $12.81 annual increase. In comparison, a $65.275 million bond would result in a $38.44 annual increase. Center noted that the total cost of renovations exceeds the district’s current bond capacity.
What happens if costs exceed $55 million if the bond is approved?
The committee originally recommended a $50 million bond but factored in an additional $5 million for unexpected and increased costs after hearing anecdotes of previous bonds not having enough funds.
How will the bond be paid off? What is its structure?
Pausewang said the bond will be paid off the standard period and not ballon at the end. He added the board has not decided on how the bond will be paid off due to waiting on the results of the election.
How does the district currently manage and cut costs?
Center said the district primarily evaluates staff positions as a cost-cutting measure. By eliminating one position or combining two positions into one, the district saves tens of thousands in salary and benefits. Additionally, teachers retiring often receive more compensation than the teachers with less experience replacing them. Center said those two factors combined have helped the district keep operation costs steady in the face of inflation.
PROPOSED CAMPUS
What rooms will the consolidated campus have?
The proposed elementary campus would accommodate 650 students in an 83,293-squarefoot facility. Plans include nearly 25,000 square feet of core classrooms designed for 22 students each, a 4,600-square-foot library, 7,650-square-foot cafeteria and 7,570 square feet dedicated to physical education.
How many students will the classrooms host?
Each classroom will ideally host 15-17 students with 17 being the district’s maximum. Under state law, classrooms up to fourth grade can only host 22 students.
How was the location for the consolidated campus chosen?
Center said the campus’ location was a huge component for the committee.
The proposal places the campus on land already owned by the district, saving costs on land acquisition. The committee liked the idea of Eagle Lake but preferred the idea of centralization.
The committee also wanted the campus to not border Highway 90 Alternate, which also left room for further expansion. The plans incorporate a new driveway to connect the campus to Highway 90 Alternate.
The committee also reviewed topographical maps and flood planes to ensure the campus would not be located in a flood zone or too close to the nearby creek.
Will the campus match the conceptual drawings already presented?
No. The illustrations were to demonstrate the proposed campus’s location, not reflect architectural design.
How will water, sewer and maintenance be managed?
The district factors in maintenance into its operational costs in its budgets. The district employs a small number of custodians and maintenance workers and contracts Johnson Controls to manage HVAC preventative maintenance.
Pausewang said a study reported that the existing water well and sewage system could handle the addition of the consolidated elementary campus.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
How does the district plan to keep elementary students away from older students on site?
The consolidated elementary campus is not connected to the junior high or high school, and elementary students will not share facilities with junior high or high school students. The campus will be located on the other side of the district administration building and will be separated by road and fence.
How does the district plan to keep elementary students away from older students on buses?
The district will transport elementary students on different buses than junior high and high school students.
What safety and security improvements will be funded by the bond?
The district would add a vestibule entrances, like the one at the junior high, to increase security at the entrances to the high school and the new consolidated elementary school. Center said security at the entrance to the high school is the biggest concern.
Center did not specify deferred maintenance projects to be addressed except for repairs to air conditioning systems.
How will traffic on Highway 90 Alternate be addressed?
Center said he and other local law enforcement agencies have reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation to reassess the safety of the four-way stop sign intersection of Highway 90 Alternate and Highway 71. The district is pursuing this regardless of the bond’s outcome.
If the bond passes, the district would have three school resource officers and could station an officer at the four-way to monitor it.
TRANSPORTATION
How many buses will be added to the school’s fleet?
Six. The district plans to bus all elementary school students with the understanding that some parents will prefer to transport their students themselves.
Center noted some students are already bused to Eagle Lake Primary School regardless of their location or age because of its specialized classrooms.
How will the district approach hiring bus drivers?
Center said the district is exploring different ideas from working with a bus company to offering stipends or increasing pay. Any further decisions will depend on the outcome of the election.
STAFFING
What will happen to existing staff?
Center said the district will not terminate any existing staff. If a staff member leaves and the position is not needed, the district would not seek to fill the position. Staff members may transition to a different job depending on the district’s needs and the individual’s desires and plans.
The administrative structure would shuffle, and the current principals would likely become vice principals for a set age range under one principal, Pausewang used as an example.
Will any positions change?
Consolidation would allow for the addition of a school resource officer, a full-time onsite elementary school counselor and a full-time onsite elementary school nurse. The district currently shares two counselors and one nurse across the four elementary campuses.
Center said having a full-time onsite counselor and nurse would decrease response and travel times, open up availability for more students to be seen and strengthen the district’s mental and physical health resources.
Has the district spoken with administrators and staff?
“Yes, they’ve all been made aware of what the generalized plan is,” Owers said.
