SAISD bonds to modernize schools
Since mid-March, the landscape of education has changed dramatically: Our school buildings are often near-empty; our educators have had to transition to teaching students through virtual classrooms; and our families were forced to adapt to this new reality of learning from home.
The ongoing pandemic has exacerbated the need for districts across the state to provide educational opportunities to students outside the traditional face-to-face classroom.
At the same time, it drives home the ongoing need to further improve our education system, from updating and upgrading our campuses to addressing inequities in access to the internet.
COVID-19 has demonstrated that schools cannot maintain the status quo when it comes to educating children; they must provide the infrastructure necessary to ensure they meet every child’s educational needs. SAISD is taking steps to meet that challenge.
In this election, San Antonio ISD voters have the opportunity to approve a two-part bond program. These bonds would center around:
• Physical improvements to campuses, including updating basic infrastructure such as air conditioning and ventilation.
• Funding new technology in all schools with a focus on high-speed connectivity for learning across the campuses.
Additionally, these bonds support the creation of educational spaces that promote easier collaboration among students. Propositions A and B not only provide some campuses with necessary infrastructure upgrades, but this bond package helps create 21st-century classrooms.
Under normal circumstances, the passage of a bond proposition would result in a small increase in the property tax rate for homeowners.
During the 86th Texas Legislature’s session, we supported House Bill 3, a $12 billion, bipartisan effort that included increased funding for every student, a revolutionary new way to fund students living in poverty, and, as a result of a compromise between lawmakers, a requirement that all bond propositions be marked with “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”
It is important to note that the increased contribution of state dollars to public education through House Bill 3 would keep tax rates low in such a way that a taxpayer would not feel or experience a tax rate increase.
We are all proud to support the 2020 SAISD bond program. This significant investment provides our students with facilities, technology and opportunities to succeed both inside and beyond the classroom. Throughout early voting and into the general election on Nov. 3, we urge you to keep our city’s next generation of leaders in mind and vote “yes” on both SAISD Bond measures.