Two Angelina County school districts will soon be starting campus improvement projects with the passing of bond elections and a tax ratification Tuesday night.
Diboll school officials were happy to report that the $22.5 million bond passed by a vote of 488 to 307. As a result, a new K-6th campus will be built east of the location of the high school on Lumberjack Drive, according to Superintendent Gary Martel. The school is looking at using approximately 50 acres of land east of Deer Trace subdivision and Lumberjack Stadium for the new campus.
The bond will also fund improving traffic safety flow and parking, particularly at the junior high, upgrading and repairing high school science labs and career and technology areas, adding appropriate district technology infrastructure and equipment and updating safety and security at all campus buildings. Additional bond projects will include upgrading the high school vocational, band and fine arts areas.
Zavalla ISD Superintendent David Flowers said he's excited at the opportunity the approval of a $5.5 million bond will bring to his students. The bond passed by a vote of 363 to 177. The number one priority of the bond will be to create a safer elementary school, Flowers said. Additional bond projects will include a track for the district's track team which currently practices in the parking lot or in a field behind the school, an on-campus baseball field, concession and storage facility and a new cafeteria providing healthier lunch times.
"This was a great evening for Zavalla ISD. For the community to support this is tremendous," Flowers. "I look forward to getting these projects underway."
Also approved in the election was a tax ratification to change the overall tax rate to $1.23, increasing maintenance and operations from $1.04 to $1.17. The 13-cent increase will raise $300,000 for ZISD — money that Flowers said is needed to maintain the district's financial stability.
Results for all 20 Angelina County precints and results for 83 percent of the tabulated state votes as of 10:15 p.m.:
Prop 1 Finance buffer areas adjacent to military installations
Angelina County For: 1,715 Against: 1,911 State For: 181,737 Against: 135,652
Prop 2 Regulate how homestead ad valorem taxes are calculated
Angelina County For: 2,539 Against: 1,125 State For: 208,684 Against: 113,236
Prop 3 Provide uniform standards for appraising property
Angelina County For: 2,198 Against: 1,443 State For: 204,534 Against: 116,465
Prop 4 University fund to assist emerging research universities
Angelina County For: 1,482 Against: 2,139 State For: 182,213 Against: 136,570
Prop 5 Single appraisal review board for adjoining entities
Angelina County For: 2,070 Against: 1,525 State For: 190,984 Against: 120,361
Prop 6 Authorize the Veterans' Land Board to issue bonds
Angelina County For: 2,294 Against: 1,287 State For: 208,220 Against: 104,110
Prop 7 State Guard officer or member may hold other civil office
Angelina County For: 2,708 Against: 917 State For: 229,313 Against: 89,247
Prop 8 Authorize the state to contribute to veterans hospitals
Angelina County For: 2,501 Against: 1,139 State For: 244,302 Against: 76,735
Prop 9 Protect the right of the public to access public beaches
Angelina County For: 2,627 Against: 1,006 State For: 249,865 Against: 68,782
Prop 10 ESD board members' terms may not exceed four years
Angelina County For: 2,504 Against: 1,112 State For: 237,524 Against: 79,843
Prop 11 Limits on power of eminent domain
Angelina County For: 3,043 Against: 610 State For: 253,634 Against: 64,511
For for results and info go to the Secretary of State Web site at: http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov09_147.htm
