Fort Bend superintendent: Passage of $1.26 billion bond package shows 'our community does support our schools'

A Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) $1.26 billion bond package earned voter approval at the ballot box on Saturday, per reports from Houston-based media outlets. 

FBISD said on Twitter that the bond’s Propositions A, B and C all passed, with trustees slated to officially canvass the results at a special meeting on May 15.

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the package is the largest bond in the district’s history.

Much of the funding will help finance the construction of a new Clements High School, which FBISD Deputy Superintendent Steve Bassett told KHOU is rife with foundation issues.

"In some areas, part of the building is sinking, and in other areas, it’s actually going up,” Bassett said.

According to a report from Houston NPR affiliate Houston Public Media (HPM), FBISD educates more than 80,000 students and is ranked the sixth-largest public school district in the State of Texas. 

Aside from the Clements construction project, HPM reported, two other schools will be rebuilt as part of the bond and a new natatorium will go up.

Superintendent Dr. Christie Whitbeck told HPM the bond’s passage shows “our community does support our schools.”

“That’s really important right now,” Whitbeck said. “I think our teachers needed to feel that. All the things we do in the interior that are really for the kids are also about our staff.” 

Houston CW affiliate KIAH reported that Propositions A and B each passed with at least 60% of the vote, while Proposition C garnered 56% of the vote. 

Among the trio, Proposition A consists of much of the funding with $1.18 billion. 

Per KHOU, the vote came just six months after voters turned down a tax hike request that would’ve funded the additional hiring of police officers and boosted teacher pay. 

Whitbeck told HPM the first bond projects will likely start after the current academic year ends.