Science Requirements - As a result of state mandates that increase high school graduation requirements to four years each of science and math, there is an immediate need to add science classroom laboratories and upgrades in District high schools.

Technology Services - To provide district students with technology services vital in today's increasingly technologically dependent world, there is an urgent need to provide adequate funding for technology services in order to ensure equity throughout the district, support the core curriculum and provide updated administrative software.

Campus Cafeteria/Kitchen Renovations - Funding for campus cafeteria kitchen renovations in approximately 40 schools is needed to meet current, more stringent Health Department code requirements. These required improvements include additional hand wash sinks, dishwashers, back flow preventers, and other plumbing modifications to ensure wastewater does not encroach into food preparation areas. Additional Health Department requirements mandate the installation of impervious ceiling finishes to ensure that the ceilings in food preparation areas and culinary arts classrooms do not retain odors as a by-product of the cooking process.

Menchaca Elementary Internal Roadway - A priority safety project is the construction of an internal roadway on the Menchaca Elementary campus to create a parent drop-off and pick-up traffic loop to ensure safety at morning and afternoon peak traffic periods. This project is needed prior to the projected widening of both Manchaca Road and FM 1626, which is scheduled for completion in the next three to five years.

Low-Emission School Buses - The funding for low-emission school buses will assist the District in accelerating the replacement of higher emission buses in the fleet, especially those buses that are approximately 17 years old. This also demonstrates the District's commitment to cleaner air while achieving a fleet with over 60 percent low-emission buses. This plan includes the purchase of more plug-in hybrids.

Additional buses will be necessary for the transition of magnet transportation services from Capital Metro to the District over the next four years. As the District offers additional student choice programs, such as the Global Studies High School, early childhood centers, and other instructional programming that require transporting students throughout the District, the need for more buses will increase.

Capacitor Banks - The installation of electrical capacitor banks is needed in order to help the District avoid a projected $2 million per year additional charge from Austin Energy beginning in 2009. Energy providers, such as austin Energy, that receive service from the Texas power grid, are being directed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to improve their efficiency of transmission or power factor. This is being done to ensure that the capacity of the power gird is not compromised as the electric service needs in Texas increase due to population growth.

Payroll Software - The current software system for payroll needs to be updated. The District is using a paper and pencil methodology to collect time and attendance for its employees, the same system that was used 100 years ago. With new technology available, the District wants to purchase the software to electronically capture the time and attendance of employees to ensure accurate compensation for employees' services.

Cold-Storage Warehouse - The floor of the cold storage warehouse for the Food Services Department has expanded or "heaved" upward due to water wicking up, freezing and expanding the soil under the floor. It is in need of repair or replacement because it serves as storage for all the frozen food used to provide meals to all AISD students. After a discussion of several options, the Committee's recommendation is to replace the existing cold-storage warehouse. Using the existing space during the construction of the new cold-storage warehouse avoids the problems involved in having daily deliveries of frozen food items from San Antonio. This also allows for easy conversion of the old cold-storage space into much needed dry storage space for the District.