HOUSTON -- The Klein Independent School District is considering new ways to spend the funds generated by a $646.9 million dollar bond referendum voters narrowly approved last year and a group of parents fear that might mean the loss of Klein High School.
Voters approved the bond measure to finance construction of several new elementary and intermediate schools, the construction of the district’s 5th high school, and the renovation of the Klein High School campus. Funds were also earmarked for construction additions to Klein Oak and Klein Collins high schools and a variety of transportation and technology improvements throughout the district.
The original scenario for Klein High School called for temporarily moving the student body to a new campus on Spring-Cypress Road in 2012 when that new campus is built. During that time the original Klein High School campus would be renovated and the student body would return to that campus in 2014. After that the new, as of yet unnamed, high school on Spring-Cypress Road would open for new students and help relieve overcrowding at Klein’s four other high schools.
But now the 2008 Bond Program Steering Committee is re-evaluating the bond plan based on changes in demographics and a downturn in the economy and have proposed additional scenarios for consideration.
"You feel like you were lied to by the people who asked you to get involved with the bond election and pass the bond,” said Kenneth Kral the parent of a Klein High School senior.
Kral’s biggest concern is Scenario B. It proposes forging ahead with the plans to build the new campus on Spring-Cypress Road and relocating the Klein HS students there in 2012. But it proposes using the existing Klein HS campus for “staff development, food service, plant operations, and human resources auxiliary and add on to the current KHS Ag Center.” High School students would then be re-zoned among the four Klein High Schools and a fifth high school campus would be built when and where needed.
Scenario C proposes renovating the Klein High School campus with students still going to school at the same time while rezoning among the four existing high schools to ease overcrowding. This scenario also proposes building a new and fifth high school only when and where needed based on student population.
"I'm concerned what is the long-term facility plan for Klein ISD. And what was presented in 2007 was just Scenario A. None of this other stuff was presented,” said Kral.
Klein ISD says the new scenarios are being presented because the economics of the original bond plan have changed in a down economy. Klein ISD spokesperson Trazanna Moreno says their analyses have shown a large impact by decreases in property values and a slow-down in the growth of the student population.
"Unfortunately that might mean that we have to change our original plans,” said Moreno. “It's not because the district was insincere or disingenuous in what it originally presented the voters. It's because the economy and the data dictates that we take a minute, stop, and reassess and make sure we're doing the best thing with our taxpayers money."
Several other projects funded by the 2008 bond referendum are currently on old for the same reason. Two new elementary schools, a new intermediate school, and a pre-K center have been delayed for a year. Ulrich Intermediate School on Spring-Cypress Road is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2010. But an untouched open field next to it is slated as the location for the district’s fifth high school campus. That $116,767,909 project is listed as “delayed” while the new scenarios are being considered.
"We want to do the best thing for the taxpayers, the students, the community, all while being good stewards of the investment that people have made,” added Moreno.
Klein ISD has scheduled an additional public meeting December 10th to discuss the scenarios and their economic impact on the district. Klein ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Cain is expected to make his recommendation to the school board in January.
