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Grassroots KIDS Group Endorses $261.5M Bond

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KIDS, Keep Investing in District Schools, is a grassroots organization that came out of the framework on Tuesday in support of the $261.5 million bond package slated for vote on May 13.

"Unmanaged growth poses a threat to the quality of our schools unless we continue to address it with careful, long-term planning and maintenance of new and existing facilities, as the district has done in the past," Forrest Bjerkaas, spokesman for the group, said in a news release. "We cannot attract the best teachers or provide the best education to students with overcrowded classrooms. KIDS believes that the prudent and responsible solution to our classroom and facility needs is to finance new construction and renovations to existing campuses through the sale of bonds."

The bond up for approval will help pay for new schools needed because of growth. It will also pay for new buildings and land, an instructional technologies update and maintenance of existing facilities.

According to the news release, the organization comprises parents, teachers, community members and business leaders who are "concerned about maintaining the high quality of the Katy Independent School District."

The news release listed several reasons the members of the group feel the passing of the bond will be beneficial to the district and the City of Katy.

First, maintenance and improvement of existing facilities is needed to maintain "building integrity, maximize campus security and to keep up with advances in technology."

The news release continued, pointing out that portable buildings are not the answer for the growth the district faces.

Second, the news release stated the "approval of the bond issue will not affect our tax rate."

According to state law, taxes can't go above $2.

Finally, the group said passing the bond "allows those moving into the district to help pay for the district facilities needed by their children. KISD retains for local use all of the debt service taxes it collects to finance bonds."

Ann Hodge, president and CEO of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and member of the bond committee, said the high quality of education is the major reason families and businesses are relocating to Katy.

"The $261,500,000 bond package will focus on much needed major maintenance and upgrade of our existing schools, as well as providing new schools for the 10,000 new students expected within the next three years," Hodge said in a press release. "The package also provides for upgraded security needs, buses and technology for our students."

 

Catherine Brown, Katy Courier

Date: 03/21/2006