NISD calls for bonds: Upgrades for Nederland stadium stand alone

Published 10:31 pm Wednesday, February 13, 2019

NEDERLAND — The Nederland Independent School District board of trustees voted unanimously to call for a bond election for two proposals totaling $155.6 million Wednesday.

The first proposal is for a new high school ($82.7 million), elementary school new learning areas and improvements ($49.1 million), middle school improvements ($11.1 million), technology incentives ($4.8 million) and safety and security ($3.4 million). The second proposal is for stadium upgrades ($4.5 million).

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The Citizens Advisory Committee proposed separating the stadium from the rest of the recommended projects. The committee of approximately 80 residents met six times since September to tour the NISD facilities and discuss upgrades they felt needed to be made. Five appointed members of the committee recommended projects to the school board based on a survey presented to Nederland residents and the committee’s judgment.

The board decided to make the stadium upgrades a separate bond issue so opponents of the bond will not be able to say the stadium is more expensive than it actually is, Trustee Micah Mosley said. Separating the stadium allows the cost of the stadium to stand alone.

“We want the stadium, but we don’t want it to stand in the way of getting everything else,” Trustee Kay DeCuir said.

CAC member Jimmy Harrison said he hopes the bonds get enough votes.

“This community needs this,” Harrison said. “The community is made up of city and school. The city has done a great job of upgrading the police station, fire station, city and Veterans Park. We have a brand new Nederland Avenue. This place is looking very nice. There is only one more eyesore, and I think we are going to fix that.”

Election Day for the bond, along with two school board seats and four city council seats is May 4.