Page 44 - 2017 GPISD Honor Board Application

4. Support for Educational

Improvement Projects

and School Transformation Initiatives

4.7 SUPPORT FOR BOND ELECTIONS, FACILITY PLANNING, AND OTHER DISTRICT
IMPROVEMENT PLANS

The Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees allocates $2.5 million per year for life-cycle improvements. Long-
range planning is the key to long-range success, and the Board of Trustees is proactive in providing first-
class facilities for students throughout their school experience.

During the fall of 2014, the Board of Trustees authorized a demographic study to begin long-range
planning, which resulted in the 2016 bond referendum. The demographic study was followed by a facilities
study, which revealed the challenges ahead for Galena Park ISD. A community advisory committee,
comprised of 30 community leaders, teachers, administrators, and Board trustees, was then appointed to
use the information gleaned from both the demographic and facilities studies to make recommendations to
the administration and the Board on how to meet the District’s projected needs.

After numerous meetings and field trips to visit Bond is underway, and planning for Phase Two has
facilities in other school districts, the advisory begun.
committee made a recommendation to the Board of
Trustees for a $290 million dollar bond referendum. The District’s Operations Department has
This recommendation was based on the findings developed a five-year replacement and upgrading
that several GPISD facilities were nearing the end plan in the following areas:
of their life cycle of use, and district facilities were • District Phones
at or near the projected capacities identified by the • Technology Network
demographic study for 2020. • Technology Traverse
• Technology for Classrooms
In the weeks leading up to the bond election, • School Cafeteria Equipment
Board trustees participated in many community • School Cafeteria Furniture
events to address questions and concerns about • Passenger Buses
the bond referendum. On Election Day, the bond • Special Needs Buses
referendum passed • AP Instructional Materials
by 73 percent, • Support Vehicles
demonstrating the • HVAC
value of the Board’s • Grounds
commitment to • Athletic Facilities
long-range facility • Student Calculators
improvements for • Classroom Furniture
all students. Phase • Fire Alarms
One of the 2016 • Building Needs

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