23 Jan 2002
DISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES CANVASS BOND ELECTION RESULTS,
HANG THANK YOU BANNER WEDNESDAY
Canvassing Will Officially Begin Process For Building Dallas' Schools Future
DALLAS—In an event marking the passage of the largest school bond election in Texas history, the Dallas Independent School District's Board of Trustees on Wednesday officially canvassed the results from Saturday's election and opened a new door to the future for generations of Dallas schoolchildren.
Trustees also joined DISD Superintendent Mike Moses to hang a 20-foot banner on the corners of Ross Avenue and Washington Street that simply reads: "Thank You, Dallas!"
"The DISD board of trustees is focused on the future of the children of Dallas and we are mindful of the responsibility we have before us in ensuring that this $1.37 billion bond package will be used to build 20 new schools and make much needed renovations to 218 schools throughout Dallas," Board President Ken Zornes said. "As trustees we will always be mindful of the awesome task we have before us and pledge to ensure that the greatest level of accountability will be kept as the funds are spent and the buildings are built."
More than 78,300 people voted in support of the district's bond election, with only 21,500 voting in opposition. A second measure on the ballot to allow the district to issue $38.7 million in bonds to retire debt now carried under the maintenance and operations portion of the DISD tax rate also received almost 61,000 votes and 33,500 in opposition.
"We cannot help but be in awe of the support voters expressed for the bond election," Zornes said. "Any time you get above 60 percent approval in an election you're doing well. We were less than 2 points short of being at 80 percent approval. That truly adds to the historical significance of this election."
Saturday's election marks the passage of the highest school bond election in the history of Texas. A bond election for half the amount was passed in Houston in the late 90s, and received 73 percent approval. The DISD bond election passed Saturday with 78.45 percent of the vote.
The passage of the bond election means that the DISD will now be able to construct 20 new schools, add 640 new classrooms, and make renovations to all of its 218 campuses over the next five to eight years. And though the first issue of bonds will be sold within the next couple of months, construction likely won't begin until early 2003.
The last bond election held in DISD was in 1992 when $275 million in bonds were issued and 16 new schools were built.
In addition to the banner outside the district's main offices on Ross Avenue, schools throughout the district have posted a thank you message to Dallas voters on their marquees.
"I think there is a lot of excitement in our district and a lot of energy," General Superintendent Mike Moses said. During interviews before the board meeting, Moses explained the steps in the process.