Aug 22, 20222 min read

SISD board of trustees calls for $39.9 million bond for new stadium. Here’s what you need to know.

This rendering depicting what a $39.9 million stadium could look like are from Hellas Construction, Inc. The design concept for SISD’s stadium could change before a final rendering is approved.

The Stephenville ISD board of trustees on Monday voted in favor of calling a bond election for Tuesday, Nov. 1, but the package that will be presented to voters looks very different from the one they voted down in May.

The newer, scaled-down version only includes the construction of a new football/soccer stadium across from Henderson Junior High, on land already owned by the district.

The cost of the $39.9 million stadium is based on project estimates from four companies.

After May’s $75 million bond proposition failed, a committee was formed to come up with a new package that voters might view more favorably.

Committee members include Craig Allen, Julie Butchee, Carla Trussell, Rick Haile, Rhett Harrison, Kimmie McKinney, Jason Smith, Rick Gann, Belle Dowell, Bryan Lesley, Andrew Hansen, Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash, Stephenville City Manager Jason King, SHS head football coach Sterling Doty and SISD athletic director Jerod Womack.

"On behalf of the board, I would like to thank the committee for the tremendous outpouring of their time and talents in vetting all the potential scenarios for a new football stadium and for critically combing though all the ensuing financials," board president Chad Elms told Beneath the Surface News after the vote. "Without their due-diligence in research, we would not have been able to move forward as confidently in ensuring we are being the absolute best stewards of taxpayer money."

After determining that Lem Brock field was not a viable or cost-effective option for a new stadium, the committee recommended using a design-build company to save the district time and money.