Eanes school board members may soon consider the appointment of a bond oversight committee to monitor the district’s progress on a bond package if one is approved by voters in November.

In response to a discussion of a committee by district business office head Larry Kaiser during a July 28 school board meeting, board member Colleen Jones agreed with the idea of a committee with that could monitor the progress of approved school bonds but said the committee should be appointed by and report directly to the school board, not district administration.

A bond oversight committee could track expenditures, monitor the quality and timing of work and build trust between the taxpayers and the board, Jones said.

“The ultimate purpose of the committee [would be] to ensure that the bond projects remain faithful to the scope of work that is approved in the bond,” she said. “It is the cornerstone to demonstrating both accountability and transparency.”

Jones said that she believed the appointment of a community bond oversight committee could strengthen the trust of the local community for the school district and its board of trustees, if the committee were a function of the school board.

“The trustees are responsible for the bond, so both the formulation of a bond as well as the oversight are primary functions of the trustees,” she said. “Therefore, (a) community bond oversight committee should be appointed by the board and should report to the board and the community.”

Jones said such an oversight committee is only effective if given some authority and responsibility.

“To make the committee a mechanism of the administration may give the illusion to the public of accountability, but not succeed in actually creating accountability and transparency,” she said.

School board member Clint Sayers also supports the idea of a citizen inclusive committee to monitor progress on district bonds.

“The committee would review the status of capital projects, bond expenditures, project schedules and the timelines of bond projects and ensure that bond funds are spent wisely on projects outlined in the bond program,” Sayers said. “The committee’s work and presentations to the board in the public view would enhance the public’s trust and confidence.”

Sayers said the committee framework should be decided by the board prior to calling for a bond in November.

“To ensure independence, the committee should be appointed by the board and report directly to the board,” he said.

There are always changes between what a district expects when it initially designs bond framework and the cost and completion of projects, Jones said.

“I think we need to be responsible for those changes, and I think the public has the right to know why those changes were made,” she said. “You can’t overeducate a community when you want a bond proposal to be passed. Not only will [an oversight committee] help with this bond, it will be a huge help with other bonds down the road.”

District administrators and board members will meet in special session on Aug. 3 to try and finalize the specifics for November district bond propositions.