Bond issue passes during Saturday’s election

(Geronimo) — Navarro ISD voters have approved a $65 million bond issue. The decision made during Saturday’s May 2 Uniform Election gives the green light to school leaders to move forward with campus expansions, facility reinvestment projects and transportation upgrades.

Unofficial results show that a total of 282 votes were cast in favor of Proposition A, while 202 votes were cast against it.

Navarro ISD Superintendent Dr. Mandy Epley says she thanks voters for turning out and says the district is prepared to begin the next phase of the bond process.

“First, I am extremely grateful for all of the stakeholders that took the time to come out and vote. And I want everyone to understand that we believe very strongly in accountability. And so, we will be calling in the fall for our bond oversight committee. We will be welcoming folks to join that committee. But for us, the next phase is really starting that reinvestment and expansion of the district that we know will mean space for our students. It’s specifically at the junior high. It’s also the additional buses and secure parking for those buses — and then the roof and HVAC for our annex and what is currently the elementary school. But both those buildings will be our early childhood center. So, it really is about the development of the district and that continuous improvement and reinvestment of our taxpayers’ dollars,” said Epley.

The single-proposition bond package includes approximately $57.5 million for expansion and renovation at the junior high campus, including additional classrooms, a cafetorium, kitchen improvements, gym updates and infrastructure work such as drainage and fencing. Another $5.4 million is earmarked for facility reinvestment, including roof and HVAC upgrades at Navarro Elementary and the district annex, both of which are expected to support the district’s future early childhood center. The remaining $1.9 million will go toward transportation needs, including additional buses and expanded secure parking for the district fleet.

District leaders say the projects are intended to prepare Navarro ISD for continued and significant enrollment growth.

Although Epley acknowledged that not every voter supported the measure, she says the district plans to remain transparent as it rolls out all future projects.

“We’re excited to be able to move forward with the project, but we know there are some folks who were skeptical. We have some folks who didn’t think that was the right choice. And we want to be able to continue to be transparent through our website, through our drone footage that we put out every week about the projects, and to make sure that everyone understands we take the faith and trust of our taxpayers very seriously. And we want to be held accountable and we want to be transparent for the work that we’re doing with their tax dollars,” said Epley.

The voter approved bond issue was given the green light — and all while maintaining the district’s current tax rate.

Meanwhile, the Navarro ISD is not the only school district in Guadalupe County who wrapped up the weekend with a successful bond election. A $295 million bond package was also approved by voters in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. Unofficial results show that the SCUC community approved all three of its propositions. Prop A included $230.7 million for general facilities; Prop B was $55.3 million for stadium facilities and Prop C was $9.1 million for technology devices.