High schools in AISD are in need of physical changes.The 2013 Bond Program was formulated in 2012, with input from District staff and the school communities where the critical facility needs of each AISD school were identified.

“Those needs were then reviewed and validated by a board of Trustees appointed  citizens’ group, who then passed their recommendation on to the AISD Board of Trustees who approved the needs for inclusion in the Bond Program,senior  AISD  communication specialist Tiffany Young said. “The 2013 Bond Program referendum contained four propositions for the community to vote upon and two of the four propositions passed on May 11, 2013”.

Several propositions were made, including one introduced in the 2008 bond to build a new high school in south Austin that has been put on hold, leaving the funds to Bowie and neighboring high schools to improve their campuses.

“We are still negotiating land and once we know how much impervious cover we have to work with we can begin working on a campus plan that will include input from the campus community,” district seven trustee Yasmin Wagner said. “After land is purchased, the board will then discuss how immediate the need is for a new high school and if the need is immediate, then the board will set a timeline and move forward with a bond proposal for the design and construction of a school or schools”.

Currently, Bowie is receiving major improvements from the 2013 bond which includes the construction of field sports and marching band practice fields on a tract of land across Slaughter Lane from the school; the construction of restrooms and outside storage space accessible to the existing athletic practice fields, the creation of an on-site laundry area for the athletics program, the renovation of space for the school’s pastry shop, the expansion and renovation of the athletics training room, renovations to the CTE food lab, and major HVAC renovations.  

“The only work yet to be completed is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) renovation work and the technology upgrades, Young said. “The HVAC renovation work is extremely extensive and will have to be performed over a two summer period of time, with the first phase performed during the summer of 2018 and the second phase during the summer of 2019”.

Approximately $8 million has been allocated for the construction of the facility improvements and another $2.4 million has been allocated for the technology upgrades.

“The 2013 Bond Program did not create any additional classroom space like the 2008 Bond Program did with the construction of new science classrooms, Young said. “This work will lead to a long-range plan and implementation schedule for the creation of additional classroom space at numerous campuses across AISD, including Bowie High School”.

The future bond program, presently scheduled for voter consideration in November of 2017, if approved by the voters, will have a concentrated focus on overcrowding relief at many schools, including Bowie.

“No decisions have yet been made relative to the best location for future new classroom buildings and other structures that may be needed on campus and provided through a future bond program,” Young said.