ELECTION RESULTS	EARLY	FINAL
FOR Bridgeport ISD Bond Proposition 1	343	649
AGAINST Bridgeport ISD Bond Proposition 1	181	601
FOR Bridgeport ISD Bond Proposition 2	305	562
AGAINST Bridgeport ISD Bond Proposition 2	219	689
FOR Decatur ISD Bond	319	544
AGAINST Decatur ISD Bond	472	883

Early totals include Absentee + Early Voting

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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS	EARLY	FINAL
FOR Proposition 1	675	1,667
AGAINST Proposition 1	774	2,344
FOR Proposition 2	788	2,284
AGAINST Proposition 2	662	1,743
FOR Proposition 3	818	2,237
AGAINST Proposition 3	624	1,774
FOR Proposition 4	637	1,619
AGAINST Proposition 4	813	2,379
FOR Proposition 5	668	1,832
AGAINST Proposition 5	711	2,054
FOR Proposition 6	848	2,238
AGAINST Proposition 6	538	1,657
FOR Proposition 7	1,048	2,793
AGAINST Proposition 7	390	1,194
FOR Proposition 8	1,083	2,778
AGAINST Proposition 8	373	1,242
FOR Proposition 9	1,115	2,918
AGAINST Proposition 9	337	1,089
FOR Proposition 10	1,009	2,650
AGAINST Proposition 10	424	1,317
FOR Proposition 11	1,106	2,910
AGAINST Proposition 11	348	822

Early totals include Absentee + Early Voting

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School bonds: 1 passes, 2 fail

Three school bond propositions were put before voters Tuesday with one passing (Bridgeport Proposition 1) and two failing (Decatur’s lone proposition and Bridgeport’s Proposition 2).

Decatur

Voters in the Decatur school district soundly defeated the school’s proposed bond.

The final numbers showed 544 voting for the bond and 883 voting against the bond. That translates to a 62 to 38 percent margin.

Early vote and absentee totals released shortly after 7 p.m. proved to be an ominous sign for the bond’s passage. Traditionally early voting brings out bond proponents, but early vote totals showed 472 voting against the bond and 319 in favor of the proposal.

The $8 million bond would have provided upgrades district-wide and improvements to Eagle Stadium, including the installation of artificial turf.

Decatur Superintendent Gary Gindt said in an e-mailed statement that he was disappointed in the results – mainly for the students and teachers.

“I want to express my appreciation to all the voters who took their time to come to the polls. Clearly, we wish the results had been different, but that’s not the case. The needs that we had hoped to address through this bond proposition remain and will need to be addressed sometime in the future. It is important for the parents, teachers and students of Decatur ISD to understand that. We (Decatur ISD) will continue to do the best we can with the resources available to us,” the statement read in part.

Bridgeport Proposition 1

Voters passed Bridgeport’s Prop. 1 by a vote of 649 to 601, or 52 percent to 48 percent. Early and absentee vote totals showed 343 in support of the bond and 181 against. On election day, 306 voted “for,” while 420 voted “against.”

The $15 million proposition was for new classrooms at the high school and intermediate schools, new band hall, new gym and other upgrades.

Bridgeport Proposition 2

Voters rejected Prop. 2 by a vote of 689 to 562, or 55 percent against and 45 percent for. After early and absentee voting, the proposition was favored by a 305 to 219 vote, but election day totals showed 470 against and 257 for the bond.

The $7 million proposition would have been used for technology upgrades, including providing all students in grades six through 12 with computers and creating laptop labs for students in grades pre-K through five.

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Bridgeport ISD Bond Election

Decatur ISD Bond Election

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Voting begins Monday in bond elections: Lack of room, labs at high school prompts bond

A tour of the locker rooms and showers at Bridgeport High School not only introduces one to the pungent funk of sweat-soaked pads, it also reveals a lack of space for student athletes.

Lockers that were meant to be single-stacks have been double-stacked in the varsity locker room. In the dressing rooms, shower stalls are being used as extra storage space. Kids have to move mats and other items out before taking showers.

Athletic director Danny Henson has worked at the high school since it was built in the early 1990s. He said when he first started, there was plenty of room in the locker and dressing rooms, but increased participation in athletics over the years has made for tight quarters.

“The varsity locker room was designed for 46 people originally,” Henson said. “It is now up to 61.”

Subvarsity athletes have squeezed in the same locker room with the varsity players due to high participation.

The weight room is also very crowded. There have been a couple of minor injuries to athletes due to the tight quarters.

The above scenarios are some of the issues to be tackled if voters within Bridgeport ISD decide to approve two bond proposals on the November ballot. The first bond totals $15 million. It will be used to build and modify facilities at the high school and intermediate school. If passed, the funds will be used for the following:

High school:

- 10 new classrooms
- four new science labs
- expanded seating in cafeteria
- new band hall
- convert old band hall to athletic dressing rooms
- build a new gym/special events center that will seat up to 1,480 people
- replacement of HVAC units

Intermediate School:

- 10 new classrooms
- a new physical education building
- reconfiguration of the student drop-off/pick-up area

Voters will also get to decide on a second bond package. Totals $7 million and will be used for technology upgrades to the district.

It will provide all students in grades six through 12 with computers and will create laptop labs for students in grades pre-K through five.

Teachers at Bridgeport High School said the laptops and the science labs would make valuable instruction tools.

Math teacher Mary Frech has been an instructor for 35 years. She said computers are necessary to teach in today’s world.

“It’s the way kids learn now,” Frech said. “This is the learning environment of today.

“One hundred years ago a slate and a piece of chalk was enough.”

But times change. Frech visited Childress High School earlier this year. They have instituted a one-to-one plan like Bridgeport is considering.

She said it made for a new and engaging learning experience. For example, in one class students completed math homework at night in an online group environment. It piqued student interest in solving math problems.

Travis Whisenant, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said the additions of the science labs will help the school comply with state requirements.

“The state has mandated an additional fourth year science course with a lab for all students,” Whisenant said. “And 40 percent of course time must be spent in the lab.”

Calculus teacher Rosalinda Scott uses various experiments to engage her students in problem solving. She loses valuable teaching time moving back and forth from the classroom to the lab.

If the bond passes, the new science labs would allow room for both lectures and experiments.

Superintendent Eddie Bland cited growth in the student body as another reason to pursue additions to the facilities.

The high school and intermediate school are at or near capacity right now. Portable buildings are being used to house students. The new classrooms would increase student capacity at the high school by 200.

This is the second time in six months Bridgeport ISD has attempted to pass a bond election. In May 2009, a bond package totaling $36 million was narrowly defeated. The bond failed by a 19-vote margin, 364-345.

To improve the results, the school board slashed $14 million off the bond total.

Do you support or oppose the bond? The deadline to submit a letter to the editor on the issue is Friday, Oct. 23. Go to http://www.wcmessenger.com/submit/letter.php to send in your letter. Please keep it 400 words or less.

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Districtwide upgrades on ballot

Voters in the Decatur school district are faced with a choice of favoring or rejecting an $8 million bond package, and they have their first chance to make their decision count Monday with the start of early voting.

The district has proposed a bond package that would address maintenance, safety and energy efficiency needs districtwide.

Middle school

At the middle school, the school’s original boiler, installed when the facility was built in 1972, would be replaced with a more energy-efficient model that would use half the amount of gas. The HVAC system, most of which is also original to the building, would also be replaced. Other potential upgrades include restroom improvements, door replacements, new door lock system, replacement of bleachers in the gym, painting, repaving the driveway and landscaping in front of the building.

Intermediate school

The HVAC units at the intermediate school, installed in 1982, would be replaced. The campus’ energy management system would also be upgraded. Other improvements would include classroom painting, relandscaping, repaving the driveway and improvements to the front of the building including repainting the exterior and replacing lights.

Rann and Carson Elementaries

Rann Elementary would receive exterior painting under the eaves, all classrooms would be repainted, some doors would be repainted or refinished and some concrete areas in the parking lot, bus loop and sidewalk would be repaved. At Carson, improvements would include some exterior painting and roof repairs.

Multipurpose Building

The Multipurpose Building, located between the middle and intermediate schools, would receive roof repairs and HVAC upgrades.

High school

Bond money would be used to add a parking lot at the high school. New door locks would also be installed.

Support services

The Support Services Building, made up of two sections – one built in 1938 and another in the 1960s – would receive several upgrades. The interior and exterior of the building would be painted, and the part of the building built in the 1960s would be replastered on the exterior to match the older section. Air conditioning units installed in the 1980s would be replaced, and doors in the 1960s area of the building would be replaced. Windows would be replaced to make them more energy-efficient. Other upgrades would include restroom renovations and roof replacement.

Eagle Stadium

The bond would pay for artificial turf to replace the grass playing surface. Chain link fence would be replaced to match the wrought iron fence already in place on the north and west side of the stadium (approximately 2,000 feet). A concession stand with restrooms would be added on the south side of the stadium. The parking lot north of the stadium would be repaved and striped, and the road on the east side of the stadium would be repaved for a fire lane.

Financial impact

The district calculates that the bond would increase the monthly tax bill $3.19 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home. Existing senior homesteads would be unaffected by the bond unless significant improvements are made to the homestead property.

Early voting begins Monday. (See sidebar for a complete list of voting times and locations.)

A slide show presentation of the bond issue is also featured on the district’s Web site at http://www.decaturisd.us

Do you support or oppose the bond? The deadline to submit a letter to the editor on the issue is Friday, Oct. 23. Go to http://www.wcmessenger.com/submit/letter.php to send in your letter. Please keep it 400 words or less.

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Early Voting Times and Locations

- Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30 each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Decatur Civic Center, 2010 W. U.S. 380 in Decatur

- Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30, each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bridgeport ISD administration office, 2107 15th Street

- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5 to 7 p.m. at Decatur High School, 750 E. Eagle Summit

- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Bridgeport Intermediate School, 1400 U.S. 380

- Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 30, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Bridgeport Middle School/Bull Memorial Stadium, 702 17th St.

- Friday, Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Decatur ISD administration building, 501 E. Collins

- Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Decatur Public Library, 1700 Farm Road 51 South

- Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. at Bridgeport Elementary School, 1408 Elementary Dr.

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Polling Locations

The first number indicates the commissioner precinct. The second is the voting precinct you are in.

Precinct 1-1
North Decatur
Decatur City Hall
201 East Walnut St., Decatur

Precinct 1-2
South Decatur
Ag Extension Building
206 S. State St., Decatur

Precinct 1-3
Slidell
First Baptist Church
119 CR 2822, Decatur

Precinct 1-4
Greenwood
Masonic Lodge, 1st floor
147 CR 2640, Greenwood

Precinct 1-5
Blewett
East Wise Fire Hall
107 CR 4421, Blewett

Precinct 1-6
New Fairview
New Fairview Community Center
East FM 407, New Fairview

Precinct 2-8
Bethel-Shiloh
Decatur Civic Center
2010 West U.S. 380, Decatur

Precinct 2-9
Alvord
Alvord Civic Center
113 North Wickham, Alvord

Precinct 2-10
Park Springs
Victory Baptist Church
4346 North Texas 101, Sunset

Precinct 2-11
Crafton
Crafton Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall
2590 FM 2127, Crafton

Precinct 2-12
Chico
Chico Public Library
109 West Jackson, Chico (on the square)

Precinct 4-13
North Bridgeport
Bridgeport High School
One Maroon Drive, Bridgeport

Precinct 4-14
South Bridgeport
Lions Hall
1107 8th St., Bridgeport

Precinct 4-15
Runaway Bay
Norma Coble Civic Center
51 Runaway Bay Dr., Runaway Bay

Precinct 4-16
Boonsville
Boonsville Community Center
West on FM 920 off CR 3743, Boonsville

Precinct 4-17
Paradise
First United Methodist Church Activity Center
302 S. Oak, Paradise

Precinct 2-18
Pleasant View
Bridgeport Public Library
2159 10th St., Bridgeport

Precinct 2-19
Lake Bridgeport
Lake Bridgeport Fire Hall
301 S. Main St., Lake Bridgeport

Precinct 3-20
Cottondale
Cottondale Community Center
161 CR 3571 off FM 2123, Cottondale

Precinct 3-24
Newark
Newark Fire Hall
406 Hudson St., Newark

Precinct 3-25
Rhome
Boyd Community Center
420 E. Morton Ave., Boyd

Precinct 3-27
Boyd
Boyd Community Center
420 E. Morton Ave., Boyd

Voters are required to provide a current voter registration card, picture ID or other acceptable ID. First-time voters are required by law to present a driver’s license or other acceptable ID in order to vote.

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