GROVES — It’s official: After more than three years in limbo, talks of a bond issue are back for Port Neches-Groves Independent School District.

On Monday, trustees unanimously approved exploring a bond election on the November 2019 ballot.

Matt Marchak, who headed up the facilities committee tasked with the issue back in 2015, told board members that based on all of the work the committee did previously the group recommends going forward with the bond.

Board President Dr. Scott Bartlett, who was part of the original committee, asked Marchak how many times the “re-formed” committee met on the topic to which Marchak answered “one” in addition to emails between the members. No opinions have changed on the topic, Marchak said.

The recommendation made back in 2015 was to go from six to four elementary schools — two Port Neches, two in Groves — combining the Port Neches administration building, West Groves administration building and the alternative campus into one facility.

As the issue moves forward, it’s obvious that Bartlett will no longer serve on the committee and there may be a few other adjustments to the makeup of the committee, which includes educators, businesspeople and residents of both cities.

PNGISD Superintendent Mike Gonzales said some research must be done first and the information must be shared with the board.

Some of the information concerns cost. When the previous recommendation was made the cost came in around $130 million.

“When the committee came in here (previously) the cost was different,” Gonzales said. “But we know now that we’re going to have to get somebody in here to guide us so we don’t make any mistakes. We don’t want our community to lose trust in us. We want to make sure we’re transparent in everything we do.”

Gonzales said he and the board want to do the right thing for both communities, Port Neches and Groves.

In the 3 1/2 years since the bond was discussed, the area saw catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm and Hurricane Harvey and an expansion kicked off at Total Petrochemicals, which would affect taxable values.

According to the Texas Secretary of State’s website, July 20 through Aug. 19 are the dates to file for a place on the General Election ballot for the Nov. 5 election.

The last district bond proposition approved by voters was in May 2007. The $123 million bond paid for renovations at the elementary schools, construction of two new middle schools, work at the high school and stadium renovations.