Austin ISD board of trustees adds $2.44B bond package to election EDUCATION
BOND ANALYSIS The AISD board of trustees voted to put a $2.44 billion bond package up for an election in November. The package will be split into three propositions on voters’ ballots in the upcoming election.
BY ZACH KEEL
Proposition B asks voters to approve $75.54 million for technology upgrades; and Proposition C is $47.43 million for improvements to stadium facilities in the district. Interim Superintendent Anthony Mays expressed his enthusiasm for the bond package’s focus on low- er-income schools. “What is exciting about this pro- posal is that it represents the biggest investment in students in historically underserved communities and in Title 1 schools while providing a ben- e t to every campus in our district,” Mays said during the Aug. 11 meeting. Kevin Foster, District 3 trustee, after expressing concern that the administration’s $2.25 billion recom- mendation at the Aug. 9 board work session moved funding away from Black and brown students, lent his enthusiastic support to the amended $2.44 billion recommendation during the Aug. 11 meeting.
The Austin ISD board of trustees voted unanimously on Aug. 11 to authorize a November election for a $2.44 billion bond package. The price tag for the bond package, the largest in AISD’s history, would be a $0.01 property tax rate increase. According to a presentation given by Matias Segura, AISD chief opera- tions o cer, AISD’s 2023 tax rate will still be the lowest in eight years. The package, which stood at $2.25 billion during the board’s bond work session Aug. 9, was increased by an additional $189 million prior to the Aug. 11 vote. The bond package will be presented in November to voters within the district’s boundaries as three propositions. Proposition A asks voters to approve $2.32 billion for improvements to the district’s schools, including security and energy e ciency improvements;
$2.44 BILLION BOND PACKAGE
Proposition A Security, campus
$2,316,025,000
modernization Proposition B Technology upgrades Proposition C Stadium and athletic facilities projects
$75,541,000
$47,434,000
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
“The bulk of funds in this package go to schools in historically under- served communities—overwhelm- ingly,” Foster said. The last bond passed by voters totaled $1.05 and received 72% support. Jason Stanford, AISD chief of communications and community
engagement said the district will spend the next several months informing voters about the bond. “[W]herever people are gathered, whether it’s high school football games, church picnics, that sort of thing—we’re going to be there talking about the bond and what’s in it,” said Stanford.
WALLS: Cloud White OC-130, AURA®, Matte MANTEL: Cloud White OC-130, ADVANCE®, Satin DOOR: Black Satin 2131-10, AURA® Grand Entrance®, Satin WHY TRY ONE NEW COLOR WHEN YOU CAN TRY TWO? SHOP ONLINE. USE THE CODE: FREE SAMPLES . Buxton Blue HC-149, Regal® Select, Eggshell TRIM & MANTEL: Knoxville Gray HC-160, Regal® Select, Semi-Gloss
BACK-TO-SCHOOL FEEL LIKE BACK-TO-STRESS?
Get Two Free Benjamin Moore ® Color Samples
Downtown (512) 480-8466 Oakhill (512) 358-6111 Koenig (512) 452-6202 Westlake (512) 329-8891 IH-35 (512) 351-9300 Arbors (512) 373-3129 ClementsPaint.com (512) 356-9965 Arbor Trails South Austin
Offer valid for two (2) free Benjamin Moore® Color Samples at participating retailer. Products may vary from store to store. Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to prior purchases. Retailer reserves the right to cancel or modify offer at any time without notice. Expires 8 / 31 / 2022 . Color accuracy is ensured only when tinted in quality Benjamin Moore paints. Color representations may differ slightly from actual paint. ©2022 Benjamin Moore & Co. Advance, Aura, Benjamin Moore, Grand Entrance, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. 2/22 Shop Online. Use the code: FREE SAMPLES 09/30/2022 XX/XX/XXXX . Color accuracy is ensured only when tinted in quality Benjamin Moore paints. Color representations may differ slightly from actual paint. ©2022 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore, Regal, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. 2/22 FREE SAMPLES.
*Purchase of $25 or more. Excludes gift cards and prescriptions. May not be combined with any other offers. Expires 9/30/2022.
Locally Owned. An Austin Institution since 1986. ClementsPaint.com Locally Owned. An Austin Institution since 1986.
North Lamar 512.459.9090
20
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook