Birdville Board Wants Bond Plan Presented to Public
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 06:00 CDT
By Terry Webster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Jun. 21--HALTOM CITY -- Birdville school district officials plan to ask the Bond Study Committee to make a public presentation on its $128.6 million proposal.
The plan, unveiled by the committee this month, would rebuild most of Richland High School, renovate Haltom High, replace Binion and Stowe elementary schools and create a new career and technology center for students.
The "town hall" meeting would give the public another opportunity to offer suggestions and comments to the committee, Trustee Sherry Dunn said Tuesday during a school board workshop. No date was set for the meeting.
If the school board approves the committee's recommendation and proceeds with a bond election, more public meetings on the bond would be held, district spokesman Mark Thomas said. The board has until Aug. 21 to call for a November bond election, he said.
Trustees also held a lengthy discussion Tuesday about where the proposed career and technology center should be built and whether the district should use land it already owns.
The new center would be built at a centrally located site that could accommodate 1,000 to 1,600 students. More students are becoming interested in the career and technology programs, and the Shannon Learning Center is not big enough to accommodate them, officials have said.
The committee's proposal calls for building a second-story addition at Haltom High School between the auditorium and library to help ease overcrowding. The school would also receive a second gymnasium and extensive renovations to the performing arts areas and locker rooms.
Additionally, the plan would eliminate most portable buildings at elementary schools and replace two of the district's oldest buildings by rebuilding Binion and Stowe, according to district officials. The new schools would be built next to the existing ones, which would then be demolished.
Other proposed work includes expanding and renovating locker rooms and adding outdoor athletic tracks at middle schools.
The pared-down bond plan came after the main portion of a $215 million bond package was rejected in September.
Voters approved $40 million in bonds for renovations and technology but defeated a $147 million proposition to close 10 older schools and build six new schools and a proposition for $27 million in upgrades to fine arts and athletics facilities.
------------
Terry Webster, 817- 685-3819 twebster@star-telegram.com
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)
Related Articles
- CDI Computer Dealers Helps Virginia School District Provide Technology Resources for 4,700 Students
- Four Iowa School Districts Select Infinite Campus As Their Student Information System
- School Districts Urged to Plan Now for Bird Flu
- Role of School Nurse Changes Over Time: Aberdeen School District Has One Nurse Per 1,044 Students
- Kept Out of School: Group Home Threatens to File Lawsuit Against Apple Valley School District Over Long Delays to Get Students Enrolled
- Board: J.O. Combs to Seek High School: District Plans Unification Vote
- Schools' 'Opt-Out' Policy on Student Data at Issue Groups Say School Districts Make It Too Difficult for Parents to Keep Information Private.
- School District Moves to 4-Day Week
- Philadelphia Education Fund, School District of Philadelphia Host Student Teacher Celebration; Event Part of Newly Created Pipeline to the Future Initiative
- Lewisville, Texas, School District Makes Science Projects Mandatory
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds