By Chris Moore

chris.moore@panews.com

 

A vote on a bond to build a new school could be on the way for Nederland Independent School District. The district announced that it would start a Citizens Advisory Committee to provide feedback and insight on the facility needs of the district. Committees are usually formed before deciding whether or not to initiate a bond vote before the citizens of the school district.

NISD school board president Susan Isom said she would like to put a bond up for a vote.

“That’s what we are looking to do,” Isom said.

The committee will tour the facilities and assess what is needed for the district moving forward.

Isom said lack of space to place students is a growing concern for NISD.

“We are running out of room for students,” Isom said.

Isom said the ideal move would be to add another school.

“I don’t know if that is going to fly though,” she said.

In 2012, two propositions for new schools failed to get enough votes to pass. Both bonds lost by about 400 votes each that year.

However, new schools might be necessary in the coming years.

In July, the district received a study from Templeton Demographics that predicted NISD would add 1,177 students by 2027. The study cited local job growth, housing opportunities, birthrates over the last few years and larger enrollment numbers in the younger grades as evidence for the predicted expansion. The study found that the number of births in Nederland has increased every year since 2012.

NISD had 5,388 students enrolled last school year. That number may jump to 6,565 for the 2027-2028 school year.

In 2009, a bond for $120 million included plans for four new schools along with renovations to the current schools and Bulldog Stadium. The bond voted overwhelmingly against it.

The Citizens Advisory Committee will meet for the first time at Nederland High School cafeteria Thursday. The NISD board members and principals of each school get to nominate two people each to the committee.

Those wishing to nominate themselves for the committee should RSVP by emailing either ecessna@nederlandisd.org or rperez@nederlandisd.org. Those wishing to self-nominate can also call 409-724-2391. Nominees should also plan to attend the first meeting.

The meeting is set to start at 6 p.m.