SISD Bond Defeated: What Now?

EL PASO, TX. – Voters on Tuesday opted to rejectabond issue for the Socorro Independent School District. The bond, which was to have raisedalmost $400 million, would have paid for new schools and several capital improvements.

Final numbers reflect about a 2-to-1 opposition ratio on the issue. ABC 7 is now investigating how the district will educate a growing community without the money it says is needed.

Socorro ISDleaders said they will go back to the drawing board to find a fiscal solution. Their focal point is the projected growth on the far East side and in the Socorro and Horizon areas.

According to their predictions, Socorro ISD officials said at least 30,000 new homes will be built in the district within the next five years. Presently, officials have a difficult time placing the studentsthey already have, so any continued growth makes the problem worse,they said.

Some of the short term solutions district officials will consider include putting studentsin more portable classrooms.Authorities also said they may have to have some students attend class on a morning shift, and others would attend in the afternoon.

“The folks that voted told us that they wanted us to seek out alternates. They want us to find other ways to deal with that growth,” said Minerva Baumann, SISD spokeswoman.

Baumann said the district’s Community Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees will have to decide if they will entertain another bond issue.

– – – – – – – – –

Written for broadcast by Martin Bartlett

Edited for KVIA.com by Miguel Martinez