Committee members tasked selecting projects for placement on a May 2023 Royal ISD school bond measure began considering their options, and how much they would cost, Thursday.

Several factors will affect those costs. Bob Richardson, executive director of project development for Durotech in Houston, said inflation and cost of materials are two of the largest factors. With inflation, Richardson said there is a high probability that it would continue through 2023. With cost of materials, Richardson said costs and delays will continue through the third quarter of 2022. He said material costs are expected to be bumpy in 2023. Another factor, he said, is labor. The costs appear likely to rise for skilled labor, which in turn can become a long-term impact.

When evaluating potential projects, Michael Lovaglio, a principal at Stantec Architects, suggested that committee members categorize potential projects in this way:

• Priority one, or must do, projects include meeting legal requirements, implementing safety and critical replacements and upgrades. These projects must be completed within 1-3 years.
• Priority two, or should do, projects include curricular, instructional, and program needs lifestyle projects. These projects must be completed within 3-5 years.
• Priority three, or would like to do, projects include curricular, instructional and program enhancement projects. These projects must be completed within 6-10 years.

Royal ISD trustees are expected to place the committee’s recommendations and on the May 2023 ballot for district voter approval. District officials said if no bond passes, the district must still spend money to accommodate the rapid growth happening in the district.

Overall, the district has a net capacity of 2,531 students, but has an enrollment of 2,639 students. Here's a breakdown by campus:

• Royal Early Childhood Center has a net capacity of 526 students, with an enrollment of 436 students.
• Royal Elementary School has a net capacity of 709 students, with an enrollment of 576 students.
• Royal Junior High School has a net capacity of 524 students, with an enrollment of 454 students.
• Royal High School has a net capacity of 772 students, with an enrollment of 845 students.
• The Royal STEM Academy has 328 students, but officials said by the 2024 -25 school year it could no longer help with capacity growth.

Committee members were told that, given the district’s projected growth, a second elementary school, serving Pre-K to 5^th grade students, would be needed by 2025. A second junior high school would b needed by 2026. A third elementary school would be needed by 2027 and a new high school would be needed by 2028.

The district would need a fourth elementary school and third junior high school by 2029. The high school would need an addition that could serve up to 400 students by 2030.

Potential items for a May 2023 ballot might include a new elementary school and a new agriculture science expo center, which would be the first phase of a future high school/junior high school campus. Estimated cost of a new elementary school is $45 million. Estimated cost of an agriculture science expo center is $12.4 million.

Lovaglio said the district planned to use prototype designs that have been established for other schools. In this way, the district would save time and money in construction. But if no new facilities are constructed, the district would need between 24-30 portable classrooms, officials said. Security would become an issue because students and staff would be walking between the school building and the temporary classroom buildings.

One possibility the committee will consider is simply renovating the existing buildings. These include:

• Renovating the early childhood center to improve the drainage in the courtyard, secure and improve outdoor learning spaces, improve security, upgrade the fire alarm and security equipment and add perimeter fencing around the play areas. Estimated cost is $4.13 million.
• Renovating and adding to the elementary school to include a new STEM-focused classroom addition, improve security, providing flexible learning environments for all grade levels, add a fire sprinkler system, update a fire alarm and security equipment, and add a perimeter fencing around play areas. Estimated cost is $10.25 million.
• Renovating the junior high school to improve security, add a fire sprinkler system, fire alarm and security equipment. Estimated cost is $5.96 million.
• Renovating the high school to improve security through the building, relocating the cosmetology and ROTC departments, converting their spaces back into classrooms, and installing a fire alarm and security equipment. Projected cost is $6.65 million.
• Renovating the STEM Academy to improve security throughout the building, installing a fire sprinkler system and upgrading the fire alarm security equipment. Projected cost is $5.56 million.
• Renovating district athletic facilities include replacing the Falcon Stadium turf field, implementing security upgrades, resurfacing the tennis courts and repairing concrete bleachers. Projected cost is $4.6 million.
• Renovating the district’s transportation center to include two bays for servicing district vehicles, improve the parking, and renovate the interior to in toilets, a break area, a training area, and lockers. Estimated cost is $4.6 million.

Committee members will be touring new and planned residential developments Saturday as they consider how best to move forward.