Houston bond foes seek to overturn judge's decision

Opponents of the $805 million bond issue approved last year by voters in the Houston school district have filed a motion to overturn the decision of a Travis County, Texas, judge to validate the election. The motion contends that state District Judge John K. Dietz did not have jurisdiction in the case. Opponents of the bond plan say it shortchanges African-American and other minority students.
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FROM DECEMBER 2007: Three families have sued the Houston school district, alleging discrimination against poor and minority children and asking a judge to stop the sale of bonds for new school construction. The lawsuit caps months of opposition, mostly from the black community, to the school district's $805 million bond package. Voters approved the bonds in November. After the election, district officials knew they could face a legal challenge, so they filed a lawsuit asking a judge to validate the election and approve the sale of the bonds. On Dec. 3, a judge ruled in the district's favor and issued a permanent injunction against any lawsuit questioning the validity of the election. (Houston Chronicle)

Earlier: The Houston school district's $805 million spending proposal would close or consolidate at least a dozen schools, and pay for 24 new schools and renovations at 134 others. It also includes security upgrades and new science labs. Opposition has arisen after some communities felt they were being shortchanged. (Houston Chronicle)

The Houston Independent School District should stop pushing its $805 million bond proposal and take time to address a laundry list of concerns from residents, dozens of community leaders say. Among the concerns of the roughly 100 at a town hall meeting were what they saw as the district's inadequate efforts to solicit community input and the underfunding of repairs at schools in predominantly black neighborhoods. (Houston Chronicle)

Some black political, religious and community leaders plan to campaign against the Houston school district's $805 million bond referendum unless the district makes major changes to its proposal. (Houston Chronicle)

Complaints from parents, politicians and the city's largest business organization about the Houston school district's $805 million construction plan have prompted school district officials to unveil a revised proposal. The concessions include renovating, rather than replacing, a few campuses and abandoning plans to create preK-8 campuses in parts of the district. (Houston Chronicle)

The Houston Independent School District will ask voters in November to approve an $805 million bond proposal. The money would enable the school system to build 22 campuses and repair 128 existing ones. The district also would spend spend $90 million on safety upgrades and $27 million to upgrade science labs. (Houston Chronicle)