AISD Bond - 2017
Do those of you who live within the AISD zone typically vote For or Against their bonds?
A couple months ago, they released their new Facilities Master Plan: https://www.austinisd.org/fmp Basically, they need something like $4 billion to get all the schools and facilities up to snuff. They know they can't ask for that all in one bite, so they are trying to ask for it in smaller bond packages every 5 years or so. Right now, they are working on the first package, which they hope to agree upon on June 19, and get before the voters this November. They're aiming for $900-950 million, and doing so without raising the tax rate. Over the next 2 years, AISD will be paying the State that same amount of $900 million through recapture (aka Robin Hood). The only way to make sure money stays in the district is with bonds. Here is the list of projects the FABPAC is considering for the first bond: http://i.imgur.com/n5GWP0O.png http://i.imgur.com/QbXmHML.png These are screenshots of the Materials from the May 24 meeting: https://www.austinisd.org/advisory-b...abpac/meetings Bowie HS is looking at a major renovation, including additional classrooms (multi-story), athletic wing, fine arts expansion, cafeteria expansion, and possibly even a parking garage. Austin High and Anderson High are also on the short list of high schools looking at major renovations in this first bond package. I know this isn't highrise-related, but it's Austin-related, and important to our community. Would love to hear any insight y'all may have, or rumors/info you can share. |
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Who knows if it will pass. The people who come out and vote in odd years are those are are much more tuned into local politics.
The Travis County Courthouse bond failed in 2015 by less than 1,000 votes. The City of Austin Low Income Housing bond passed in 2013 after previously being voted down. |
Bowie High School Phase I
http://i.imgur.com/5RtqGlZ.jpg Austin High School http://i.imgur.com/PV23Hv2.jpg https://www.aecomconnect.com/AISD/bondscenario.html |
I'm not sure I like AISD spending so much on new facilities while enrollment is decreasing, but I'm inclined to vote in favor of it just to stick it to the legislature, if nothing else.
Though I think I'm voting against the county bond. Most of the money is coming from Austin and the other cities, and none of it goes to city residents. |
I tend not to vote for them because over the last couple of years AISD has commissioned a couple of reports about various things, and it seems like most of them say that the district needs to do a better job managing their bond money(at least that is what a good friend told me)and nothing seems to change.
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Plus quit spending money on damn athletics and focus on teaching!
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Athletic fields get worn out. They have to be replaced. If not, kids get injured. Have you ever run on a turf field with the seams all jacked up? ACL tears waiting to happen. You'd rather that happen? BTW, AISD does concentrate on teaching. The latest tests show that the district is not only above average in results in Texas, but in the nation. And that's with a majority of the students being economically disadvantaged, or English is their second language. AISD is not the district spending $70 million on a football stadium, like in Katy. AISD spends so little on athletics compared to a lot of districts, especially those surrounding us. In this bond, they actually decreased a lot of athletic spending that was originally wanted so they could appease voters like you. House Park is in disrepair, but instead of spending $10 million on it, which covers all projects needed, they cut it down to like $2 million and put the rest on the back burner. |
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Akins is overcrowded, and there are tons of houses/apartments being built in their zone. The new HS, which is not being funded with this bond, will eventually go out there. It'll be needed. Bowie is overcrowded. Bowie was built to hold 2,400 kids and has been well above that its entire existence. AISD projects Bowie to peak around 3,100 in 2021 or so, then drop back to a steady 3,000. That's bigger than they are currently. Their reports say that Bowie has enough classroom space to make it work, but the common areas are what needs work. The band hall is not nearly big enough. Same with orchestra. The theater is in bad shape. The lunch room is way too small. Same with the athletics wing. I wouldn't be against combining Reagan and LBJ. They are so close together, and both are under-enrolled. But the communities will be up in arms. |
I went to LBJ. I'd be incredibly saddened if it were combined with our rival school, Reagan.
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I would not wish injury upon anyone, however that is a risk that you take when you play sports. ACL tears happen whether it is on a pro field or a high school field. |
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You are correct, AISD does score better (way better actually) than the national average, and to some extent Houston and Dallas according to the national report card. However, Dallas and Houston (according to AISD pier cities) also score better than the national average. On a side note, I have no idea how the national report card scores are made. Maybe some blend of 4th and 8th grade math and reading scores? https://www.austinisd.org/budget Pages 83, 94 |
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https://www.austinisd.org/budget FY 17 budget page 413 for athletics and page 43 for teacher salaries |
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AISD coaches are some of the lowest paid. The stadiums are barely kept up. There is very little spent on athletics by AISD. To say we spend more of our budget than the DFW metro? Where sports are king? Houston and Katy, too? I don't see it. I don't know where you got your numbers. I'd like to see them. |
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Turf fields are a greater up front cost, but save money over the life of the field. Your argument that basically "shit happens" when you play sports, is weak at best. Yes, ACLs and other injuries happen. But they don't have to happen because of neglected fields. |
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