READER: TIME FOR BISD RESIDENTS TO LEND SCHOOLS A HAND

 

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Nearly 20 years ago, the residents of the Brownsville Independent School District were asked to invest $135 million to provide our children with four additional new schools and construct and upgrade wing additions and renovations at seven campuses.

There were also HVAC and fire alarm system upgrades in the bonds package and included Americans with Disability Acts improvements for our disabled children as well as reroofing projects and parking lot expansions and repairs.

The students who attended those new schools and improved campuses have graduated by now, and it's our turn to step up to the plate and provide our coming generations with improvements in at least 39 campuses that have been identified by our fellow district residents in need of structural repairs. We are not building new schools, but rather improving the ones that already exist.

Our district has 50 schools, 34,350 students, and our 5,543 full-time staff in our district that covers 90 square miles, the largest school district in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the years, past generations have taken matters into their own hands and provided their support to educate our children. It's our turn to roll up our sleeves and do our part.

No one can argue that our district boards across the last 20 years have not been fiscally responsible and provided responsible financial stewardship. In fact, our financial advisors have asserted that their performance in whittling down that debt has resulted in savings on interest cost to our district taxpayers.  

That responsible performance has resulted in the early retirement of the original debt with no tax increases. It has reduced its debt ahead of schedule and it will now cost less to address financial borrowing to make the proposed district-wide improvements. 

Today, our fellow residents of the district – through the Citizens Facilities Committee – spent months analyzing the needs of the students and district facilities and proposed another bond issue to be implemented over five years that will bring critical improvements to 39 campuses. Making these improvements, they said, will ensure safe, modern environments for our next generation of students. 

Want our district to be a showcase for our students' talent? Build them a performing arts center we can all be proud of. 

The committee members recommended moving forward with another bond issue that will be voted upon this coming November 4 in two propositions. Just as our parents did 20 years ago, the members of the committee have taken matters into their own hands and stepped up to the plate to recommend these needed improvements.

It is now up to us to take control and support our next generations as those before us did to provide our children with safe, modern learning environments. Please vote "yes" on Props A and B this November. It's our turn to take control and get 'er done.