School district shares latest bond(s) update
(Seguin) — With two bond projects still in the works and one hopeful bond project in the future, the Seguin ISD is celebrating the news of tackling even more facilities thanks to savings in the 2019 bond issue.
That’s according to Sean Hoffmann, chief communications officer for the Seguin ISD. As part of the district’s bond project update, Hoffmann tells the Seguin Daily News of more classrooms coming to the Ball Early Childhood Center.
“We are very fortunate to have managed these projects for Bond 2019 in a way that has allowed some additional funds to still remain from Bond 2019. So, because of that and the need for additional pre-kindergarten classroom space over at Ball Early Childhood Center, we have about $2.5 million that we can use that we anticipate that we will use to add four additional classrooms, additional restrooms and a custodial and maintenance closet over at Ball. So, that’s going to give us additional classroom space to be able to accommodate additional students in our Pre-K program. That project falls under as some may remember back in Bond 2019, we did have dollars earmarked for various school projects and various renovations so this money falls right in with that line item and allows us to use those dollars towards that project at Ball Early Childhood Center to expand our pre-k program,” said Hoffmann.
Should even more additional funds be available thanks to the 2019 bond, then the district w
ill look at finally doing away with its septic system and connecting Vogel Elementary School to the city’s sewer system.
As for the rest of the 2019 bond package, Hoffmann says the district is nearing the end with the renovation and transformation of A.J. Briesemeister Middle School and the recent purchase of land for a new McQueeney Elementary School.
“At Briesemeister Middle School, the renovation project there should be wrapping up this fall. So, the Fall of 2023, we will be coming to a close on that project. We will have most of the major construction done at that time and classrooms open back up and facilities usable. We will certainly have some punch list items as we move forward with that project but there is light at the tunnel over at A.J.B. Also back in January, the McQueeney land acquisition was finalized. The district purchased 25 acres out on FM 725 north of our current McQueeney Elementary School so that sale was finalized. We are very fortunate to work with the Dammann family on that project and be able to secure that property for a new future elementary site,” said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann says the district has already jumped on moving forward with projects approved by voters in November 2022.
He says the first was a priority project – a project that addresses safety at each of the local schools.
“Since November, one of the priorities of Bond 2022 is to include recommendations made by our safety committee that met last summer and begin to add safety enhancements to our schools. We have $15 million earmarked for safety and security and it is naturally after Uvalde’s top of mind in school districts across the state of Texas so this spring and this summer, our Seguin community is going to see some changes at some of our campuses where we will be putting and installing exterior fencing or reinforcing fencing that we have and adding gates and some of the keyless entry and passcode readers, cameras and digital devices to our schools,” said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann says incorporating these safety devices at the various schools took some time as they ensured they were properly considered for each campus.
“So, we’ve gone, and we’ve looked at each of our campuses, evaluated the perimeter fencing and have come with designs to maximize our playground space and allow our students and staff to be able to access playgrounds and parking lots but also make sure that those buildings and those playgrounds are secure. So, that’s going to be the first project that I think many will visibly see when it comes to the perimeter fencing for these schools,” said Hoffmann.
As it wraps up or initiates new projects, the Seguin ISD is also busy campaigning for a new 2023 bond project. On May 6, the Seguin ISD will be asking voters for a $7.5 million baseball and softball complex at the Seguin High School campus. Although voters voted down the item in November, the district says the complex is vital to the program and athletes’ safety. Plus, it says, the complex is more than just about a pair of sports but more about a complex that has the potential to generate plenty of dollars for not only the district but the entire city. It also adds that the longer the community puts off the project, the more it will cost them.
The Seguin ISD bond project continues to be updated via the school district’s website. The information can be found at seguinisd.net.