More Information on BISD 2005 Bond Election
Provided by other sources. 8/30/05
Listed below are some issues which may not be generally known. This is being presented in light of the electioneering by BISD employees and
spokespeople. It is also interesting to note that the money being provided to the PAC that is supporting this issue is largely coming from people and
companies that stand to benefit directly from the issuance of these bonds.
1. Currently the district has long term bond obligations of some $465,000,000
2. If the voters approve the proposed 30 year $215,000,000 bond package, the district will add some $430,000,000 additional debt (principle and interest) which will bring the district’s bonding debt to almost one billion dollars.
3. With voters’ approval of the 1993 and 1996 bond packages, the district was able to reduce the number of portable classrooms from 130 to less than 30. This was accomplished by the construction of new and permanent classrooms. In addition, all of the older schools received new roofs, new energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems as well as other facility improvements.
4. According to BISD administration, the 2005 – 2006 student enrollments has leveled off and declined for the first time in recent history. In addition, the cities which make up the district are “built-out” with little future anticipated growth. Therefore, the district’s proposed one billion dollar debt will generally be paid off by existing owners of residential and business properties. It is likely that business may be discouraged from staying or moving into the BISD district. Is this an attractive scenario for keeping our current residential and business property owners here in our district?
5. Senior citizens over the age of 65 are being told this bond election will not impact them financially. The proposed major tax rate increases for this bond program can be a deterrent to selling property in the future. Senior citizens should let their voice be heard in this election as in all previous elections. Many senior citizens also own rent property within the district that is subject to this tax increase and may result in higher rent to tenants across the board.
6. The proposed demolition of schools under phase I and II will leave the district owing some $50,000,000 in debts on the buildings which will be destroyed. This debt must be paid by the taxpayers.
7. The proposed technology is designed around the concept of hard wiring computers. A new technology in wireless communications eliminates the need for hard wiring computer networks. In addition, student access to computers does not mean each classroom needs to have a computer for each student as proposed by this bond package. Currently each classroom in the district has computer access and computer labs are available for students to use. Additional electrical wiring is routinely added to both commercial and school buildings.
8. All of our secondary schools have gyms which can be used for indoor physical conditioning if outdoor weather conditions are considered to be unsafe. Although it might be nice to have additional indoor athletic and band practice areas, it is not essential for producing quality results as experienced by BISD in recent years. Such niceties were not present when most of us who will have to pay for this bond issue were in school.
9. Ten million dollars was set aside as part of the 1993 and 1996 approved bond packages to construct two new elementary schools. These two schools were needed to balance the attendance zones within the district. Some $5,000,000 was to be used to construct each of the new schools. Had these two schools been built, the districts attendance zones could have been balanced without overcrowding existing schools. Instead the district chose to spend more than thirteen million dollars on one school in the upscale Hometown area to demonstrate what they believe elementary schools of the future should look like. To defend this position, the district is promoting the idea that students can learn more in a new school than in our existing schools. It should be remembered that a new school is only new for one year and then it becomes one of the existing schools.
10. This proposed $215,000,000 bond package is being promoted on the basis of new is better, and is necessary for "revitalization" or "economic development" for cities within the district. It fails to tell the voters what we can or should expect in academic improvements. We have seen our student test results decline in recent years. We have seen reductions in the number of teachers and school staff because of budget restraints, and we have seen reductions in the district’s reserve funds which are set aside for emergencies used to fund salary increases and other operating cost. Remember too, that student enrollment within the district is currently flat and possibly declining.
11. Yes, there are indeed “needs” within BISD that should to be addressed with a bond program. However, many believe the proposed $215,000,000 bond package goes far beyond the “needs” and will put the district in a long term financial bind that will prevent it from addressing real needs in the future. The voters should consider saying no to the proposed bond package and ask the BISD administration and school board to propose a new bond package that is focused on the “needs” of the district and not on the “wants” of some.
12. Families with students currently enrolled in BISD schools should realize that new facilities are only new for one year, but a quality education will last a lifetime. Therefore, the focus of our school district should be on how to raise the quality of learning rather than how to improve the district’s image by building new facilities.