During a special called meeting on Tuesday February 10, San Angelo Independent School District trustees approved a May 3 school bond election. The goal? Financing $397 million-worth of upgrades and new construction as part of its long-range sustainability plan.
Dr. Christopher Moran, Superintendent spent several minutes covering the major points of the recent Facilities Advisory Committee’s findings. None of which was news to the Board. The District has too many buildings more than 100-years old, or 60-years old, or 40-years old. There is too much deferred maintenance on these structures as San Angelo voted-down six of the last seven school-bond proposals.
If passed, the May school bond proposition will pay for:
- $8 Million in safety and security upgrades
- $122 Million for a new Glenn Middle School
- $125 Million for additions and renovations to Central High School in three phases
- $29 Million for additions and renovations to Lakeview High School
- $45 Million for elementary additions and renovations.
Parkhill Architects have been working with Trustees in consultation with the District’s Facilities Advisory Committee to scrutinize needs throughout the entire school system, with the aim of addressing aging infrastructure and declining enrollments. You can read more about what the school bond includes here.
The board took action on closing Austin and Alta Loma elementaries in early 2023, combining Austin’s attendance zone with McGill Elementary, and Alta Loma’s attendance zone with Fannin Elementary, paying for new construction at McGill and Fannin with existing funds.
Similar measures were taking place in school districts throughout Texas around this time, and this trend has continued to increase, with Fort Worth ISD recently announcing they may be closing up to 25 schools in the near future.
The District discovered major structural problems at San Jacinto Elementary last fall. As a result, the board permanently closed the school. The action upset generations of students, parents and teachers with ties to one of the oldest campuses in town.
SAISD administrators and trustees had to decide between two bad options for the 115 year old building. There was the reality of major structural failures in a 115-year old building, and the cost to keep the building usable. Parkhill estimated it would cost up to $1.75 million for initial repairs. But, according to Parkhill’s best estimate, “research is ongoing about the feasibility.”
And, San Jacinto is not the only 115-year-old school in town.
Reagan Elementary, built in 1909, will close by the 2027 school year. That same goes for the much newer Bowie Elementary in southwest San Angelo,
Recent School Bond Results
The last two school bond elections in San Angelo, held in 2018, did not succeed, according to information from the county elections office.
A single-proposition bond seeking $149 million drew 6,100 to the polls in May, where voters were almost evenly-split, and the measure failed by a mere three votes: 3,051 to 3,049.
In November, trustees called another bond election split between a pair of proposals:
Prop. “A” called for bonds totaling $111,480,000 for “construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school buildings.” It drew only 1,233 voters who split 707 to 526 or 58-percent against.
Prop. “B” was for bonds totaling $34,000,000 for “construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school buildings, including extracurricular, fine arts and athletic facilities,” and drew a much larger voting pool with 26,105 votes cast.
The “nays” won in that contest with 58-percent against also; 15,026 to 11,079.
Dr. Taylor Kingman, M.D., who represents Single Member District 3 and serves as board president shared his thoughts about the proposal.
“I think it’s important as a board, that we realize that if we elect to call a school bond tonight, this is the last time as board members that we can express our opinions on the needs and importance of this bond.
“This is a big decision for our community and our school district, and personally, my family has been blessed to have a wonderful experience with SAISD, and in San Angelo as a whole.
“It is my hope and dream that our district can provide that experience for all students.
“Our district is made up of exceptional students, teachers and staff, who work to make a difference in students’ lives, and help promote the hopes and dreams that parents and students share for their future.
“As we move forward, we must understand and explain to the public that funding major school projects relies on local community support in the mechanism of a bond.”
Dr. Kingman talked about the districts striving to provide financial transparency, implement balanced budgets and teacher raises, and make difficult decisions about facilities, and said the only way ahead is to pass a school bond.
Kingman noted that San Angelo has one of the lowest tax rates for comparable and neighboring cities, currently at $.81-per 100-dollars of valuation, with a bond-debt rating that is 12-cents lower than Midland, 16-cents lower than Odessa, and 21-cents lower than Abilene.
“A community that does not invest in their schools is not flourishing,” he said. “The quality and funding of the public schools directly reflects a city’s economic health, infrastructure and priorities.
“Well-supported schools foster a skilled workforce, reduce economic disparities and ensure long-term community prosperity.
Kingman said the end result of putting more into public schools is that it’s easier for the community to attract new businesses and young professionals, ultimately improving the quality of life, and protecting property values.
He announced his support for a one-proposition bond election in May.
SMD 6 Representative and Board Secretary Gerard Gallegos talked about the bond issue from a generational perspective.
“My dad voted for the bond in 2008,” he said. “And he voted for every other bond, and his grandfather voted for every bond, because they knew that, as a community, that’s how you take care of your community.
“I feel that somewhere along the road, we lost sight of that — as a community.
“In 2008, my dad asked me ‘Are y’all going to get a new Central High School?’ and I asked why, and he said ‘Because I voted for it back in the 50s — I didn’t think it was going to be here for 30 or 40 years.'”
“I think it’s time as a community to reinvest for our kids.”
Gallegos pointed out that students going to a new school have a very different experience from students attending a run-down school.
At-Large Member Pam Duncan asked “Why not now?”
“We’re not guaranteed tomorrow,” she said. “So why not try for this now, and give our kids what they deserve. As a teacher for many, many years, I don’t know how you get out of that car, and go into that school and not want to give them the very, very best.”
SMD 4 Representative, and Board Vice President Ami Mizell-Flint asked “If not now, when?”
“We’ve passed one school bond in 30 years?” she asked. “Yes…we’re talking about a bond for kids, but I see it more as a bond to further our community. It means new schools for our kids, with new spaces … new facilities, but more than that, it will build a place for kids to grow up educated, and be part of an educated community.”
SMD 5 Representative, Dr. Kyle Mills, D.O., said trustees realize $397 million is a lot of money, but pointed out that many of the bond monies would remain in the community.
“I remember going to the meetings, and going through the process, seeing the dollar signs, and looking at everything — and it’s a lot of money — there’s no doubt about it, but one thing we can’t control is the cost of things.”
Dr. Mills said, that as a product of SAISD, it was very telling to him as he toured the schools of his youth. Many of the facilities had not changed from his days there.
“They had not changed one bit, some of these places” he said. “And that’s sad.”
Following comments from trustees, SMD 1 Representative and Board Treasurer Bill Dendle made a motion to proceed with a single-issue school bond election set for May 3. The motion passed unanimously 7-0.
According to information from SAISD, The Facility Advisory Committee consisted of a group of 60 citizens, community leaders, district staff, and parents.
School Bond Public Comment
During the public-comment portion near the beginning of the meeting, only one person spoke about the proposed bond. Concerned parent and frequent public commenter Virgil Pacetti.
Pacetti said he was very concerned that trustees “waited until the last day” to take action on the item. He then proceeded to scold trustees for a variety of decisions they have made in the process of planning a bond election, and surrounding the closure of San Jacinto Elementary. He decried the May election date because of low voter turnout. He complained that not all of the information was given to the advisory panel, and they did not make informed decisions.
He then objected to the cost, and said the board was trying to “hang” him with $400 million in debt, which he and his progeny would be paying off for decades to come. Pacetti talked about some of the costs associated with major school renovations in town, and then suggested that a board member he did not name might be benefitting from plumbing-supply sales, and suggested that board member might recuse themselves for that reason.
Pacetti objected to the representative from Single Member District 2 voting on the bond, noting that she has not answered all of his questions, and that she is not running for re-election. Pacetti closed by saying the bond is needed, but he feels it shouldn’t focus so much on athletics. He feels like trustees have cut corners, possibly to everyone’s detriment.
Attend a School Board Meeting
San Angelo ISD trustees meet twice monthly at 5:45 p.m. in the second-floor board room at the District Administration Building, 1621 University Ave.
Unless otherwise stated, a pre-agenda workshop usually is held on the second Monday of the month, with a regular meeting following on the third Monday.
