BY RACHEL WINDLER
An original proposition of $265,830 million to improve the school district as a whole has been put to vote, and our Judson Independent School District members have spoken.
Four propositions were presented: the first, for modernization and technology for a total of $135,900 million. This proposition was approved. The second, for two new elementary schools at a total of $73,080 million. This proposition was approved. The fourth, for previous bond debt to rebuild Kirby Middle School's science building at $5,200 million. This proposition was approved.
However, the third proposition, for the second phase of Mackey High School, intended for an additional wing for an auditorium much like our own at Wagner, at a total of $51,650 million, was not approved.
This bond was set up for voting in those four separate propositions so that voters could cast votes for each individually. Therefore, if voters didn't want to pass only one part, the whole bond wouldn't be rejected; especially since there was some apparent opposition within the community. Superintendent Dr. Carl Montoya, however, claimed that even those who opposed this bond changed their minds after attending only two meetings covering everything that would be improved in the district.
Those who also support this bond are definitely among the more upstanding members and organizations in our city: the San Antonio Express News, San Antonio mayor Ivy Taylor, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. According to Dr. Montoya, the position of the Chamber of Commerce “was we need this, bad."
The apparent purpose of this bond was to make sure schools in the district have two things: good academics and good facilities. This is especially vital since JISD is the fourth largest out of 35 local districts, and is growing by 4% every year, according to district officials.
These expansion projects are necessary to keep up with the sheer number of students JISD services every school year. Judson High School is already over capacity by between 800 and 900 students,. Meanwhile, some of the elementary schools are at 105% capacity. The ideal number is 85%.
It's clear the district is at a crisis level. If the bond hadn't gone through, the only options left were rezoning of students and bringing in even more portables.
Not only district officials gave their opinions of this bond. At the last bond meeting, parent Gayland Bockhahn stood and said, "I need you to go out in this next week and educate yourself. And vote." And our community did just that.