Members of a Royal ISD facilities advisory committee are now reviewing requests for items to be recommended for placement on a bond for district voters to consider next year.

Should committee members decide to put all the recommended items on the ballot, the price tag would be approximately $148 million. The work would include new campus construction, comprehensive renovations and remodels to existing facilities, athletics facility updates, safety and security upgrades, and work on existing facilities.

Committee members recently took a bus tour of the district, with Superintendent Rick Kershner pointing out where residential developments are being developed. He said the district expects to grow by about 22,000 homes in the next few years. He said the Royal ISD student population is expected to grow by about 13,000.

Royal, like other area school districts, is experiencing a strong student population growth and is asking for resources to meet that growth. Kershner briefly reviewed the situation with other area districts and their respective bond elections.

• In Brenham, Kershner said, voters will be asked to consider two propositions, one of which is for a new junior high school ($111 million). The other is for improvements to CTE facilities and programs ($25 million).
• In Waller, Kershner said, voters will be asked to consider two propositions, one of which is for three new elementary campuses, safety and security upgrades, and an agricultural science facility, among other updates, renovations and infrastructure ($363 million). The other proposition is for lifecycle replacements and safety security upgrades at Waller ISD Stadium ($4.7 million).
• In Lamar CISD, Kershner said, voters will be asked to consider five propositions. One is a general-purpose proposition, covering safety and security upgrades, for new elementary campuses, a new medical middle school, renovations and inner additions, among other items ($1.3 billion). The other propositions are for a new CTE center ($189 million), technology upgrades ($17 million), stadium improvements ($5 million) and a new stadium in addition to the existing one ($195 million).

Katy ISD voters in 2021 approved a $676.2 million bond, Kershner said.

At its Oct. 13 meeting, committee members heard a presentation from Damion Hopkins, the district’s athletic director. He described needed changes to Falcon Stadium to bring it up to date with current standards. Total cost is about $6.4 million. Changes include:

• Installing a new, eight-lane track. Hopkins said the existing track has only six lanes and does not meet UIL standards.
• Moving the field slightly to accommodate the new track, installing new field turn, and installing new, UIL regulation goalposts.
• Installing a new set of visitor bleachers, as the current ones are considered near the end of their lifecycle.
• Adding 200 seats to the home bleachers, repairing the existing bleachers and repairing and painting the existing home bleachers.
• Renovating the restroom and putting in a new press box.
• Installing perimeter fencing around the track, upgrading and adding security equipment, and adding concrete sidewalks for excess abilities.

Kimberly Bow, who is volunteering to help lead the bond campaign, spoke of what would happen if a bond election fails and the district continues to grow.

“The issues won’t go away,” Bow said.