HOUSTON — At the beginning of this month, the Houston Independent School District laid out a $4.4 billion bond proposal for school improvements.
District leaders said mechanical electrical and plumbing are the main problem areas. The district wants to repair a total of 40 schools.
On Tuesday, they let cameras inside two of the schools to see the issues at hand.
The first school KHOU 11 News toured was Paul Revere Middle School, where some parts are under construction.
“We have experienced things such as our floor needing to be leveled, which has been done,” said Principal Monique Moody. “Our foundation was repaired recently as part of the ongoing work that's happening at our campus for the safety and security of our students.”
Principal Moody said other parts of the school are due for some much-needed upgrades, too.
“Some of the major concerns that we have here on our campus are related to plumbing, foundational issues,” said Moody. “Air conditioning systems that have created leaks. We've had living in Houston, storms that come at random, that have caused some roof leaks.”
Principal Moody said if the district's billion-dollar bond is approved, the school will be able to get a new building.
“Would allow us to not have to have continuous work being done, but to be in a space of physical stability so that we can focus on that high-quality instruction,” Moody said.
About 15 minutes away at Fondren Middle School, Principal LaKia Jackson is on the same page.
“We need it,” Jackson said. “We have a lot of leaks that have created mold.”
If the bond is approved, Fondren would get infrastructure upgrades to fix broken chairs in the auditorium, cracks in the floor, and the AC principal Jackson believes could be the reason why there’s mold in some classrooms.
“We really need to get to the root of the problem so that they can fix it versus like patching up as needed,” said Jackson.
Principal Jackson wants some security upgrades, too.
“We're literally open to the public, and that presents a security concern,” said Jackson.
Both principals hope the bond proposal is passed, but if it doesn't, they will continue working to make sure their schools are taken care of as best they can be.
“Our teachers are doing their best to basically work around the concerns that we have. However, that money will take away the barriers that impact the learning environment,” Jackson said.
Some parents within the district have told KHOU 11 News previously they are not in favor of the bond. The district does plan to continue showing more schools that they say need this bond to pass.