As HISD officials consider passing $4.4 billion bond in November, district officials name familiar face to co-chair advisory committee

Former HEB President Scott McClelland, known for his HEB ads with the Houston Astros and former Texans JJ Watt and Brock Osweiler, is one of three Houston ISD advisory committees for a 4 bond proposal .4 billion dollars.

The other two co-chair members include Judith Cruz, former HISD board president and current trustee, and Garnet Coleman, former member of the House of Representatives.

The job of the district advisory committee is to help engage the community at the neighborhood and campus level to address the most pressing repairs that the district will need to put at the top of the list. If the bond gains voter approval, district officials hope to begin construction in early 2025.

District officials are calling the bond proposal “Renew HISD,” saying as they reach their 100th year of operation, they seek to quantify the district’s most pressing repairs and renovations.

An 86-page PowerPoint presentation released by the district shows that nearly 32 percent of the district’s buildings are at least 50 years old. Additionally, HVAC totals 26% of costs, 15% is structural, and 24% is allocated to electricity and plumbing. In a statement, district officials said they relied heavily on temporary building structures to handle the district’s growth over the years.

The district also calculates costs for air purifiers, water bottle filling stations, HVAC and environmental testing and security on each campus.

Most of the interview will take place in primary and secondary schools. Officials say the high schools were renovated using the 2012 bond.

To avoid raising the tax rate, ABC 13 reported, the district plans to use the $4.4 billion bond to replenish its general fund while spending general fund money on those improvements.

Parents who protested at City Hall on May 25, along with some city officials, denounce a lack of transparency on the part of Superintendent Mike Miles, as teachers and principals have been asked to resign or told that ‘they would be fired. Additionally, critics accuse the Texas Education Agency of supporting the new education system and HISD’s takeover, waving signs and chanting “No Trust, No Bond.”

The district has scheduled three more public meetings: Tuesday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at Fondren Middle School, Wednesday, June 5 at 6 p.m. at Fleming Middle School, and Monday, June 10. to 6 p.m. at Forest Brook Middle School.

If the bond gains voter approval in November, district officials hope to begin construction in early 2025.