Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Renovation bonds to be considered by Kingsville ISD

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Monday, February 28, 2000

Renovation bonds to be considered by Kingsville ISD
$30 million for remodeling, computers will be covered by state and local funding
By Jeremy Schwartz
Caller-Times
Staff writer Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 886-3779 or by e-mail at schwartzj@caller.com
The last time a school in the Kingsville Independent School District saw a major renovation, Gerald Ford was president and the Bee Gees topped the charts.
   After 34 years, school officials say all 11 campuses in the district are in need of remodeling, renovations and infrastructure work, and they are proposing $30 million in bonds to do just that.
   But the district must act fast to qualify for state funds that would pay for up to two-thirds of the bond, officials said.
   "We think we have a real special and unique opportunity and we need to take advantage of it right now," said Joe Henkel, president of Kleberg First National Bank and co-chairman of the school committee that studied the bond.
   State officials have told the district it would likely receive funding from the state's Instructional Facilities Allotment Fund, which is given based on need.
   "If we don't pass this now and get help, we will be in real bad shape in the future," said School Board President Juan M. Escobar.
   "In the future it will all have to come out of the local taxpayers' pockets."
   School officials said that if the bond passes, and the state doesn't give them the money, the bond approved by the voters can't be used.
   Board members decide on March 7 whether or not to place the bond proposal on the May 6 ballot.
   "I don't see any problems at this point," Escobar said. "It seems like everybody's in agreement."
   While the bonds would pay for a variety of projects at Kingsville schools, about one-third of the money would go to H.M. King High School to pay for plumbing and electrical upgrades, roof repairs, renovated science labs and gymnasium additions.
   The bonds will go largely to renovations and technology enhancements such as new computers and computer labs.
   The new construction projects include new girls' dressing rooms at the high school, a new choir hall at Memorial Middle School, a new library at Gillett Intermediate School and a multipurpose room at McRoberts Elementary School.
   "The bond is the only way we can get this done because we just don't have the tax base," Superintendent Charles Greenawalt said.
   "Without the bond it will take a long time. With the bond it would take about three or four years."
   The district will likely push for a two-part bond measure, with the state paying for $13.5 million of the first $20 million.
   The district would then wait for the state to re-fund the Instructional Facilities Allotment Fund in the next legislative session before going forward with the remaining $10 million.
   Officials are hoping the state will pay for $6.5 million of the remaining $10 million.
   Greenawalt said if the bond is passed and the state contributes what is expected, property taxes on a $50,000 house would increase by $6.56 a month.
   The additional $10 million would increase property tax on a $50,000 house by another $1.71 a month.
   A committee of community members and business leaders had originally identified $50 million worth of upgrades needed by the district, but whittled that number down, Henkel said.

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