Posted 2/06/2004 10:43:00 PM by Douglas

Just like the turning of the leaves every year, it's bond time here again in CCISD.

A $337 million bond package that included a multipurpose stadium and a warehouse failed last May. Addressing concerns from opponents, the Bond Advisory Committee recommended trimming these and other items.

The slimmed-down package, supporters say, focuses strictly on classroom instruction and seeks to provide immediate relief to a school district that is getting an average of 1,000 new students per year.

So the poor, deprived children of the district aren't getting a $20 million high school stadium, but is there some reason to think that this reduced version, which still totals more than a quarter Billion dollars, is going to benefit the education of the children in the area? Look where the money is going (or look here at a previous rant):

• New schools — $118,899,216
• Campus additions — $27,564,860
• Instructional resources — $24,622,242
• Land acquisitions — $29,063,420
• Capital improvements — $63,523,348

Let's forget for a second that State law prohibits using bond money for general maintenance, and CCISD has earmarked "Capital Improvements" for what most consider general maintenance (they want to fix a leaking roof.) Look at the numbers for a second. $120 million for new schools, $29 million for land, $28 million for campus additions. Pretty soon you're going to start talking about real money here.

This isn't coming from some nebulous magic pot of money in Washington. It's coming out of my pocket.

There's not a chance in hell that this bond is going to get defeated. After all, it's for the children.

Vote early, and vote often!