By The Houston Independent School District (HISD) hosted five community engagement events during May and June, including four in-person sessions at HISD campuses across the district’s four geographical divisions and one virtual session.
These events, led by the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and district officials, focused on presenting the proposal for the 2024 bond. Following the presentations, attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. The highly engaged audiences at these events, many of whom took photos of the presentation slides, demonstrated significant interest in the proposed projects.
The four public meetings took place at:
– Central Division: May 5, 2024 at Fleming Middle School
– South Division: May 30, 2024 at Cornelius Elementary
– West Division: June 4, 2024 at Fondren Middle School
– North Division: June 10, 2024 at Forest Brook Middle School
What is CAC?
The community advisory committee or CAC is a group of community leaders who have been assembled to drive engagement with the community during the development of the bond.
The Committee shared information about the specific facility needs at the neighborhood and campus levels and gathered feedback about the District’s proposed priorities. The District has not had a bond since 2012 and, as a result, there is over $10 billion in past due repairs according to facilities assessments. HISD’s proposed $4.4 billion school bond will allow the District to prioritize the schools with significant structural needs and the highest utilization levels, focusing primarily on elementary and middle schools – without raising property taxes. It would be the largest bond in Texas history if approved.
The committee is comprised of 28 members of the Houston community and is co-chaired by three seasoned Houston leaders as members of the community themselves:
Judith Cruz is a former trustee and board president of Houston ISD. With over two and a half decades of experience as a teacher, nonprofit leader, advocate and parent in HISD, she’s deeply rooted in efforts to foster student success, especially for those whose talent and potential is often overlooked.
Garnet F. Coleman served 30 years in the Texas House of Representatives. Until March 1st, 2022, he served on the House Appropriations Committee, the Public Health Committee, and as the chair of the County Affairs Committee. He was an author of the state Children’s Health Insurance Program and served as one of 32 state legislators appointed by President Obama to help write and pass the Affordable Care Act. He is the chief strategy officer of CCPPI, a nonprofit he founded.
Scott McClelland is the retired president of H-E-B. In 2017, McClelland co-founded an education-based non-profit called Good Reason Houston focused on improving education for all students across Harris County from cradle to career.
While the co-chairs have a diverse set of lived and personal experiences, perspectives, and constituencies, they share a common commitment to HISD students. Their mission is to make sure every voice is heard and the thoughts of the community are brought back to HISD.“I joined the bond community advisory committee because I know how long overdue and needed a bond is for the future of HISD,” said Cruz. “Our students deserve to learn in safe and healthy environments. Our educators deserve to teach in innovative, effective classrooms. These are the most basic and imperative building blocks we can provide our students as they prepare to reach their potential and fulfill their dreams.”
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