H-E-B school district considers nearly $1 billion bond to replace aging schools
The Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district is considering placing a nearly $1 billion bond on the Nov. 7 ballot to replace the aging L.D. Bell and Trinity campuses and renovate an elementary building that would house the alternative KEYS high school.
The school board will consider calling a bond election during a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the school administration building, 1849 Central Drive in Bedford. Voters would see two propositions on the ballot: Proposition A for $979.3 to replace the campuses and Proposition B for $18 million to replace technology.
The proposals would cost 16 cents per $100 of valuation, or $488 for the owner of a $350,000 home with a homestead exemption. It would be $400 if voters approve a school tax break in November.
Earlier this year, a facility planning task force of school board members and other leaders in Hurst, Euless and Bedford recommended a bond package to meet the future needs of the school district, which is among one of the most diverse in the country, according to the district.
Steve Farco, a task force member and a Bedford city council member, told school board members that campuses such as Trinity and Bell high schools were built during the Cold War, before Dallas/Fort Worth Airport opened in 1974 and before anyone saw the economic impact of the airport.
“D/FW is the melting pot. Our cities are talking about redevelopment We are the hub on the wheel. We are 20 minutes away from everything. We don’t want to continue to let us deteriorate,” he said.
He added that the economic impact of new schools in the area would benefit everyone.
“Consider the possibilities of what we could do with state-of-the-art schools,” he said. “Consider the possibilities.”
Other task force members described touring the aging schools and seeing duct work hanging from the ceilings in classrooms at Trinity High School and small, pie-shaped classrooms at Bell Manor Elementary.
The last bond election in 2017 renovated the junior high campuses, said Deeanne Hullender, a spokesperson for the school district. This bond would be the most comprehensive in the past 30 years, she said.
Some other concerns: the high school science labs do not meet Texas Education Agency standards and auditoriums do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
At Trinity in Euless (built in 1969), there are cracked pipes and foundation problems, Hullender said. The campus’ 11 buildings would be replaced in phases.
A new building would be built next to the existing L.D. Bell in Hurst, which was built in 1955.
Bell Manor Elementary would be renovated for KEYS High School, and a new campus for Bell Manor would be built, she said.
