Click here for the announcement of the election - and a description of the bond - in the AISD webpage. It was approved by the board in August:
Contents of the school bond proposal were recommended by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), a group of parents, local citizens, and school staff. “The CAC worked long and hard for about six months to figure out the best options to address the fast growth that the district is experiencing,” said David Becker, co-chair of the group.
The recommended package totals $212,445,000 and includes funds for the District’s third high school to accommodate 2,500 students; elementary 16 for 800 students; replacing Longfellow Elementary on the original site to accommodate 800 students, land and design for elementary 17 and 18; a junior high school in Manvel to accommodate 1,000 students; renovation and expansion of Alvin Junior High for 300 more students, land for junior high seven; design and related costs for a Career and Technical Education Facility, and a new Godwin Ag Facility to improve instructional access. Also in the proposal are safety and security projects, including the addition of more secure entrances on older campuses, replacing outdated communication systems and adding surveillance cameras. The proposal also includes land and design for a centralized facility for a district athletic stadium, satellite transportation center and district competition swimming pool (natatorium).
With their focus on meeting the educational needs of students and their commitment to being good stewards of tax dollars, the Board voted to allocate $8.6 million from available fund balance and $3.46 million from current maintenance and operations funds to cover some of the projects recommended by the CAC. “These include items with shorter term use such as band uniforms, buses and technology,” said Tommy King, deputy superintendent for business. Additionally, due to lower construction costs, the District has $28,095,000 of authorized, yet unissued, bond funds available from the 2009 bond referendum which will also be used to fund bond some of the projects.
The Chronicle had a comprehensive story on the matter in August. This followed a previous one on the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended the bond. The need for a high school on the west side was a major issue in the recent election:
Some of the opposition was due to the way the vote was to be conducted:
When Nicole Tonini successfully ran in May for Position 5 Alvin school trustee, she said, "Many on this side of the district feel a high school on the west side is long overdue.
"It would be good for this area and also for the east side as it will alleviate growth at Alvin and Manvel high schools," she said.
. . . "The need for a third high school is incredibly crucial," said Paul Ingamells, who served as committee co-chair with David Becker. Ingamells added that the need for the third high school is documented by a third-party demographic company.
"This bond has really got to pass," Ingamells said.
Demographic forecasts indicate Manvel High School will have 2,504 students in the fall. It has a capacity of 2,500. Officials project it could have as many as 3,416 by 2017.
The district has already engaged SWA Architects to begin the design process, said district spokesman Dan Combs. The school's location is at Kirby and Broadway, across from Pearland Town Center. The district purchased the land as part of its 2009 bond initiative.
The third high school site prevents the inclusion of a varsity football stadium and natatorium; so the citizens committee recommends spending $8.9 million to purchase land and build such facilities.
Alvin ISD trustees voted 5-2 on Aug. 8 to call the election.
Tonini voted in favor along with board president Tiffany Wennerstrom, vice president Regan Metoyer and trustees Cheryl Harris and Charles McCauley.
Trustees Mike Lansford and Sue Stringer voted in opposition.
Stringer said she is not specifically against the bond, but has concern over the district's practice of using branch polling locations in addition to the usual early voting and Election Day locations.
She believes it is an "attempt to skew the vote."
"Seniors, for example, are not going to be out after dark and could be disenfranchised," she said.
Lansford agrees with concerns over rotating polling locations, saying the additional cost is unnecessary. He adds, "Since the additional 23 sites are not neutral, many people will perceive the school district as stacking the vote in the bond's favor."
Combs said the district has been using branch voting locations for years when it comes to bond elections. He explained this allows for greater participation among residents.
"It means more people are enabled to participate," he said, adding that the practice is also used by neighboring school districts. Residents can also early vote and vote on Election Day.
