Adam RollinsOn May 3, more than 70% of voters in the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) approved a $402.3 million bond to build a new school and make critical renovations to existing facilities.
The construction of High School #2 is the largest investment approved as part of the referendum, costing $298.8 million in total. The structure will cover 506,000 square feet and serve up to 2,500 students between grades 9 and 12. Features provided in the new campus design include baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, two practice fields, a band practice lot, an agriculture barn and a sub-varsity competition stadium.
A pair of schools will benefit from a series of capital improvement projects to renovate and improve infrastructure and systems. The district will allocate $51.1 million to enhance Dripping Springs High School. Plans include replacing HVAC units, repairing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, implementing safety updates and segmenting the security measures of competition areas. Additional work will renovate the fieldhouse, improve lighting and update finishes.
Rooster Springs Elementary School will spend $25.8 million for similar work at a reduced capacity. Improvements include replacing HVAC systems, repairing mechanical, electrical and plumbing utilities, enhancing lighting and updating finishes.
The district will spread $15.4 million across seven educational facilities for various capital improvement work. Some of these improvements include fixing drainage issues, waterproofing buildings, painting, repairing plumbing and replacing windows, mechanical housing, HVAC pumps, stadium turf and track and geo wells.
DSISD will spend $6.1 million to make the bus fleet safer with retrofitted seat belts, replace the bus wash, repair exhaust systems and buy new buses and other fleet vehicles. The final $5.1 million will enable the district to update technology infrastructure and devices, source new equipment and buy new portables and furniture.
Image by elizabethaferry from Pixabay
