BALLOT BOX: November 2007 bond election results
Nov 16, 2007 11:06 AM
Houston bond request squeaks by: Unofficial returns show $805 million proposal has won by a narrow margin
The $805 million proposal to fund Houston school renovation and
construction has barely won approval, according to uncertified totals. The money
will enable the district to build 24 schools and renovate more than 100 as it
closes or consolidates a dozen. But some parts of the school district felt the
proposal had left them out, and black leaders in particular were divided over
the funding request.
Click here to read The
Houston Chronicle article.
Cypress-Fairbanks and Spring Branch districts get OK on bonds: Two suburban Houston systems sought a combined $1.4 billion
In Texas, the Cypress-Fairbanks and Spring Branch school
districts have won approval of large bond proposals. The majority of the funds
in Cypress-Fairbanks' $807 million bond package are earmarked for building 14
new campuses, including two high schools. The money also would go toward 275 new
and replacement buses and 10 school sites, as well as provide for upgrades and
technology. The $597 million Spring Branch bond package includes rebuilding 12
elementary schools and also calls for upgrades to air-conditioning, heating,
plumbing and electrical systems at existing campuses, upgrades to athletics
facilities and improved transportation, technology, safety and security systems.
Click here to read The
Houston Chronicle article.
In Dallas region, districts win approval of large bond requests; voters approve packages in Prosper, Fort Worth, Irving districts
Voters in the Prosper (Texas) district have
given the green light to a $710 million bond package. Irving voters
approved a $250 million school bond election that included money to continue
providing laptops to all high school students. Voters approved two bond
proposals supporting Fort Worth schools totaling nearly $600 million.
will mostly go toward additions and improvements to existing schools. A $282
million school bond package had a strong showing of support in Denton.
The package includes three new schools, and renovations and expansions for 20
older campuses. A bond package worth $78.5 million for the Lovejoy school
district appeared headed for victory. The money will cover renovations at two
elementary schools, construction of a second middle school and a second
practice gym at Sloan Creek Middle School, and a second phase of Lovejoy High
School.
Click here to read The
Dallas Morning News article.
Leander (Texas) bond appears headed to victory: $559 million proposal would pay for 8 new schools and other improvements.
Voters in the Leander (Texas) district appeared on their way to
approving a $559 million bond package, the largest school bond proposal in
Central Texas history. The bond proposal would provide funds for eight new
schools, land for an additional nine campuses, a new stadium and additions and
renovations to other buildings.
Click here to read The
Austin American-Statesman article.
Voters say yes to Charlotte school bonds: Charlotte-Mecklenburg district gets OK for $516 million construction proposal.
Voters in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) schools district have
overwhelmingly approved a record school bond request of $516 million. The money
will enable the district to build 12 schools, expand three more and renovate 12
others, but it doesn't address all of the space issues in the growing district.
The schools now use more than 1,200 mobile classrooms, and 50,000 additional
students are expected to enroll within the next decade.
Click here to read The
Charlotte Observer article.
Fort Bend (Texas) wins $428 million bond; other bond victories include Texas City, Friendswood, Angleton, Dickinson
A $428 million bond issue to build new schools, renovate older ones and buy
equipment and school buses for the district was passed by voters in the Fort
Bend (Texas) district. Elsewhere in Texas, the Angleton district won
approval of a $139.9 million package; Dickinson voters approved a $107.5
million bond package; Friendswood district voters approved three bond
propositions totaling $99.4 million; and the Texas City district won
approval of four requests that total $122.5 million.
Click here to read The
Houston Chronicle article.
Fairfax County (Va.) wins approval of $365 million proposal
Voters in Fairfax County, Va., have approved a $365 million bond request. The
money will pay for two new elementary schools, an addition to one elementary
school, renovations to six elementary schools, planning funds for renovations to
two elementary schools and two high schools, and modular additions to four
elementary schools.
Click here to read information
from the district.
Bonds defeated in West Sacramento, Calif.; Washington Unified District had sought a $59 million package.
A $59 million bond measure to modernize schools in the Washington Unified
School District in West Sacramento, Calif., has failed to win
approval. The proposal garnered 50.4 percent of the vote, but it needed a
55 percent supermajority to pass. The board sought the bond to pay for an
ambitious school makeover plan. It would enabled the district to finish
conversion of a middle school and elementary campuses to serve grades K-8.
Click here to read The Sacramento Bee article.
Beaumont (Texas) gets OK for $388.6 million bond
Voters have approved a $388.6 million bond proposal in the Beaumont (Texas) district, and construction could begin in spring. The first phase of construction will include new classrooms and science labs at West Brook High School, new classrooms at Central High School and new science labs at Ozen High School.
Click here to read The Beaumont Enterprise article.
Socorro (Texas) school bonds rejected
Voters in the Socorro (Texas) Independent School District overwhelmingly shot down a mammoth $397 million bond package. The bond would have enabled the district to build several new schools, establish pre-kindergarten centers, and make additions and renovations to existing campuses.
Click here to read The El Paso Times article.
Voters nix bonds in Lexington-Richland 5 (S.C.) district
Voters in the Lexington-Richland 5 (S.C.) district have rejected a $256.5 million bond package that would have been spent on three new schools and a technology training center as well as paying for renovations to seven existing structures.
Click here to read The State article.
MORE:
The Pflugerville (Texas) has won approval of a $125 million bond package that will pay for two elementary schools and one middle school.Other improvements include campus security system and technology updates and money for planning for the district's fourth high school and purchase property for future school sites. In other Central Texas districts, Dripping Springs school district voters approved $96.17 million in school bonds that will be used to build a high school and to remodel and expand the middle school. In the Wimberley district, voters approved a $34 million bond package. A $27.5 million request will pay to renovate existing schools, build an elementary school and buy land; a $6.5 million plan will improve gyms and locker rooms at the junior high and high schools, build an industrial arts and vocational education facility, and buy school buses and other equipment....Voters in the Thrall district rejected a $7.9 million school bond proposal that would have gone toward building a high school and renovating elementary and middle schools.The proposal is the same one that voters turned down in May.
To read The Austin American-Statesman article, click here.
Voters in the Unionville-Chadds Ford (Pa.) District have rejected a $62.5 million proposal to renovate and expand its high school. The improvements would have included more classrooms to replace modulars; a larger cafeteria; a second gymnasium; a larger auditorium; synthetic turf fields, and more space for the district's administration. To read The Philadelphia Inquirer article, click here.
Voters in the Florence (S.C.) School District 1 have rejected a $125 million bond referendum aimed at building seven schools and changing grade configurations. Click here to read The Morning News article.
All three propositions in the Port Arthur (Texas) school district's proposed $189.5 million bond election have passed, giving the district the go-ahead to finish off projects at the new high school, build two new elementary schools and perform renovations throughout the district. Click here to read The Beaumont Enterprise article.
The Amphitheater (Ariz.) district has won approval of a $180 million bond proposal. The money will be used to replace aging facilities, purchase new buses and possibly build two new schools. The Sahuarita (Ariz.) district won approval of a $14.7 million bond proposal. The funds will supplement the construction of two schools, renovate gymnasiums and improve athletic and playground fields. To read The Arizona Daily Star article, click here.
Voters in the Gilbert (Ariz.) district have approved an $82 million bond issue that will pay for a new high school and a new elementary school. To read The Arizona Republic article, click here.
Voters in the Antelope Valley (Calif.) Joint Union High School district have rejected a $240 million bond proposal that would have paid to build two new high schools and complete construction on a third. To read The Los Angeles Daily News article, click here.
The Alvord (Calif.) district has won approval of a $196 million bond proposal. The funds would enable the district to build a new high school and renovate 19 district schools. To read The Riverside Press-Enterprise, click here.
