By a 70-to-30 margin, district voters nixed plans for a $34 million bond that would have financed a new elementary school and science labs and a roof at the high school.
District officials pointed toward a sparse turnout — only 8.75 percent of registered voters cast ballots Saturday — as one of the reasons for the bond's failure. But not to be discounted was rapidly rising valuations that have property owners feeling the pinch.
“Recent appraisal increases could have affected the vote,” BSISD Superintendent Michael Downes said. “Increased taxes from rising appraisals will not benefit school districts at all.”
Although the voters have spoken, the needs still exist, and trustees will spend time during Thursday's meeting discussing how best to address those needs. No action is expected to be taken.
Also Thursday, trustees will consider a revision in local policy that would allow high school seniors who have not met all state graduation requirements to still participate in commencement ceremonies.
Under Texas law, a student must pass all segments of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests before he or she can receive a diploma.
However, local districts have the option to allow seniors not meeting the TAKS criteria to participate in commencement. Those students would receive a “certificate of course completion” in lieu of a diploma and would not be considered high school graduates.
Big Spring ISD policy currently does not allow students not passing the TAKS to participate in commencement.
The reason trustees are considering the change is that more seniors — statewide as well as locally — are falling short of graduation requirements. Downes said more than 50,000 students statewide — including 17 locally — are at serious risk of not meeting state requirements for graduation.
In other business tonight, trustees will consider:
• Personnel matters.
• Election of new board officers.
• Canvass the bond and trustee election results.
Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at
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