Aldine ISD hosts bond meetings

By BOBBY HORN JR.
The Aldine ISD is asking the patrons of the district, on May 12, to approve $365 million in schoolhouse bonds, which would, among other projects, build 12 new schools buildings.
Over the next few weeks the district has planned a series of public meetings to explain the purpose behind the bonds and the impact they would have on taxpayers.
Meetings will be held on April 10 at Carver High School and Keeble EC/Pre-K. On April 12 there will be meetings at Aldine High and Grantham Academy.
Three meetings will be held on April 23: at Carver High, Hill Intermediate School and MacArthur High. On April 30, there will be meetings at MacArthur and Nimitz High Schools. Nimitz will host another meeting on May 1. The final meeting will be May 3 at Plummer Middle School.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

According to the district, they have reached the limits of their current buildings. In the past seven years, the district had added 6,000 new students bring the total close to 59,000 students. Close the 6,000 students are being taught in temporary buildings. A study of the district shows 10,625 new homes are either being planned or are under construction and another 6,000 additional students are expected of the next five years.
In addition to building new schools, the district also plans to spend $75.6 million on improvements at its other campuses.
While passage of the bonds would cause an increase in property taxes, the district says the range of the increase is modest by comparison to the benefits. The average property owner could see a monthly increase between $2.62 and $15 depending on the amount of bonds sought that year.
Under state law, property taxes will not go up for homeowners who are over 65 or who are disabled.
Early voting begins April 30 and lasts through May 8.