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October 2008 |
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Town meetings planned to talk about bond issue |
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Written by Ben Barkley
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Monday, 15 October 2007 |
Two town hall meetings have been scheduled in order for voters in the Sweetwater Independent School District to learn more about the upcoming bond election.
The Sweetwater ISD board of trustees called a $10 million bond election earlier this year to help upgrade facilities at several campuses. The town hall meetings, which will both be held at the Sweetwater High School auditorium, are scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
The board called for a committee of citizens to study all facilities in the district this past spring to determine if there was a need for action that was beyond the scope of the SISD regular annual revenues. Several citizens of the community responded to the call and spent a considerable amount of time evaluating the facilities.
In July, the committee reported their findings to the board. The group found several areas they considered to be in need of immediate attention and recommended that the district request approval of a bond program to address the items. After studying the recommendations, the board called for an election asking Sweetwater ISD voters to approve a $10 million bond program.
Because of the tax compression by the Texas Legislature, the 2008 tax rate with the passage of this bond will be 33 cents less than in 2005. Taxes on a $100,000 home would be $110 more in 2008 than in 2007. However, this is still $280 less than in 2005. Residents who are 65 or older would have no tax impact on their homestead, unless they do major improvements.
During the town hall meetings, members of a public action committee will discuss the improvements which have been outlined by the committee during the spring. If approved, the bond proceeds would be used to address the following areas:
• Upgrade the HVAC systems at Sweetwater High School and Sweetwater Middle School (replace HVAC system in the sixth grade wing of the middle school).
• Expansion of East Ridge Elementary School (addition of four classrooms, add a library and expand the capacity of the cafeteria).
• Upgrade the middle school gymnasium (replace floor and bleachers of upper gym; replace floor of lower gym and add air conditioning to both gyms).
• Upgrade high school science labs (demolish old cafeteria and replace with a new, state-of-the-art science and technology annex).
• Renovate Sweetwater High School auditorium (replace seating, remove and replace falling and stained ceiling, replace carpet, replace audio system).
• Upgrade SISD technology infrastructure (increase the band width between campuses to facilitate increased use of Internet based software on campuses and in classrooms. Replace antiquated phone system throughout the district).
• Upgrade Mustang Bowl restrooms (renovate existing home restrooms and add additional home and visitor rest-rooms that are ADA compliant.)
• Add parking to Southeast Elementary School.
Early voting for the election will be held Monday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SISD administration office on Mus-grove Street.
Mobile early voting will be held on the following dates:
• Monday, Oct. 22 — 5-8 p.m.. at Southeast Elementary School.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 — 8-9 a.m. at the J.P. Cowen Early Childhood Center; 5-8 p.m. at East Ridge Elementary School.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 — 8-9 a.m. at the J.P. Cowen Early Childhood Center.
• Thursday, Oct.. 25 — 6-8:30 p.m. at the Mustang Bowl.
• Monday, Oct. 29 — 5-7 p.m. at Sweetwater Interme-diate School.
Those who wish to vote can do so on election day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day at each of the county precincts.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 October 2007 )
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Every year we would all come together at my grandmother
McFaul-Coplen's home in Roscoe. She is no longer with us, but my family now
celebrates Thankgiving in my home. My parents, brothers, and their families all
bring a dish. I wanted to carry on what my grandmother started, and love and miss
all my family in Sweetwater and Roscoe. - Tracey Flake (Early, Texas) Last year I had chosen my fall leaf garland with gold candles
however, at the last minute I had to redecorate with my snowman collection due to
the 5-6 inches of snow we accumulated! - Kandy Myers (Sweetwater, TX) |
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