Six years later, UISD is beginning the process of presenting another bond issue, this time for an amount over $300 million. The district has hired Raymond Turco & Associates, to conduct a survey of district employees and residents to see if they will accept a new bond request in that amount.
If you were around, and remember the last bond issue, I believe there was talk of building a new "auditorium" for graduation ceremonies and the like (but we have the LEA for that) and a large indoor swimming pool along with a list of new schools to be built. The voters overwhelmingly defeated the bond.
On a personal note, I remember UISD pulling out all the big guns for that bond issue. They flooded the airwaves, newspapers and other media in attempt to get the public to pass it. However, with a bad economy, and what many saw as wasteful spending in the bond, the people said no.
It looks like the district is scaling back on the size of the bond they "may" propose, to not include an new auditorium. If the district can validate the new schools, I mean really validate them, then they deserve to be built. However, with enrollment growth declining, the citizenry really needs to take a hard look at the bond issue.
It will be interesting to see the results of this survey. UISD, be prepared to make the results public.
Oh, and remember, the school district and it's employees may not "lobby" for the bond to pass. They may only provide information on what the bond issue will encompass. Nothing more.
Tom- this is interesting...thank you for sharing it and the history...I hadn't heard about it, but will follow the story and share with fellow parents to learn more about it.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess UISD will be getting another big no but hell no during the vote. If I'm not mistaken, the specs for the natatorium wouldn't have met USAA standards meaning the pool couldn't be used for competition. I was quite sure the pool was supposed to have been constructed when they built the SAC. 300 million bond - ok how much money is that advertizing making on those UISD buses. Who is pocketing that money. We haven't heard anything about that UISD slush fund.
ReplyDeleteIt is wise to be nice to all your employees when you are asking them and their families to help the bond pass. The UISD Superintendent is disrespectful to many employees and this will not help get "yes" votes. A good politician is nice to everyone but B.S. never picked up on that.
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