Northside Independent School District could see a bond election next year as district officials push off the need for one in 2013. Northside has seen about 3,000 additional students to the district ever year and the student population is now close to 100,000 students and 110 schools.
The district is not set on what upgrades the package would contain, but a new high school in western Bexar County will likely be part of it. Spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said the district already owns land near Tally Road and Co. Rd. 471 where the school would potentially be built.
“That was purchased out of the last bond issue. So the next bond issue would provide the funds to build a new high school,” Gonzalez said.
The district already has 15 high schools including several magnets. Each of the schools has around 3,200 students.
Northside had called for a bond every three years since the mid 90's and 2013 would continue that trend. The NISD bonds have totaled $2.5 billion since 2001, and Gonzalez said the past bonds have run between $400 million - $700 million each.
“The board had not looked at a dollar figure for the next bond,” Gonzales said. “That’s something that comes out of great study and great reflection and looking at the needs of the district.”
The bond process is still early and the next step would be to create a committee of about 200-300 people to determine what projects should be included and then present it to the school board.
“We’re nowhere that yet, that may be something that we do in the Fall,” Gonzalez said.
