CCISD working on 2018 bond package with new Carroll High School in sight

Beatriz Alvarado | Corpus Christi

Show Caption Hide Caption Officials break ground on two-story elementary school Corpus Christi Independent School District officials broke ground for the new Windsor Park Elementary School. Construction is expected to be complete during the 2019-2020 school year.

The Corpus Christi Independent School District is putting together a $208 million bond package for the upcoming election.

Here are some highlights the board is considering:

New Carroll High School, $175 million

Ray High School window replacements, $2.5 million

New gyms at Kaffie and Grant middle schools

District-wide safety upgrades as per Gov. Greg Abbott's School and Firearm Safety Action Plan

District-wide technology upgrades, like replacing all staff computer equipment

Locker room renovations at Hamlin, Browne and Martin middle schools

No action was taken. The board is expected to call for a bond election during the Aug. 20 board meeting.

Voters approved Corpus Christi ISD bond packages in 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2016 that total about $611 million. A bond proposal was rejected in 2004. Before that year, the last time a bond proposal was approved by voters was in the mid-1990s.

The district has $527 million worth of outstanding debt at this point, comptroller Donna Hohn told the board.

The district has been in negotiations to purchase land for the new Carroll since at least November.

More: Corpus Christi ISD looking to buy land to build new high school

Trustees have already approved a resolution that ensures the district will be reimbursed for the land purchase once funds become available via a bond election.

The resolution to reimburse the district has been described as a proactive move that will save the district money because land prices continue to increase in Corpus Christi, officials have said.

District spokeswoman Leanne Libby said the land purchase, the location of which hasn't been disclosed, has not been finalized. No details were shared regarding plans for the old Carroll during the workshop.

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Trustees adopted a $400 million budget in early July. The district avoided a deficit thanks to a 9-cent tax hike that was factored into the budget. But because certified tax roles were not available until late July, the board held off on adopting the new rate, which would rake in an extra $13.5 million.

The board has yet to vote on whether to adopt the new maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.15 per $100 and Hohn presented other tax rate increase scenarios during the workshop Wednesday.

The tax hike, which would typically require voter approval, is available to Texas school districts that have been impacted by a natural disaster. Estimates indicate Hurricane Harvey could cost Corpus Christi ISD up to $138 million, officials have said.