Tyler School Bond Proposal Among Items Approved by Voters

EAST TEXAS � A number of items have been decided as East Texans headed to the polls Saturday. The most prominent in Smith County, a bond election in Tyler ISD, which voters have approved. The final unofficial tally shows For: 5,459 Against: 3,250. Following passage of the bond proposal, school superintendent Gary Mooring issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Tyler Independent School District and the Board of Trustees, I want to thank the community for supporting the $160.5 million bond election. Because of you, thousands of children in the District will soon receive their education in safe schools that are designed to support 21st century learning.”

Over the next two years, Tyler ISD will build a state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center that will serve students from both John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools; a new middle school in the southwest quadrant of Tyler; a new middle school at the current Boulter Middle School site; a new middle school at the current Moore MST Magnet School site; and remodel and additions to Rice and Dixie elementary schools. These facilities are all scheduled to be complete by August 2015.,

With input from the community, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees carefully designed a bond package that would fulfill a commitment to finish renovations at our elementary campuses and begin addressing our secondary campuses. The six projects included in the bond will help us move forward with the District�s Long Range Plan.,

By the year 2020 we expect to have an additional 2,500 students, bringing our total student population to more than 20,000. At this point, the areas of the Long Range Plan that have not been addressed are John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools, as well as transitioning to a 5th-6th intermediate school and 7th-8th middle school configuration.

JoAnn Fleming represents Grassroots America – We the People and the “No More Excuses, Tyler ISD!” Coalition, two groups that opposed the bond. Fleming told KTBB, “Even though the bond election passed, our message has not changed. When Tyler ISD is compared to all Texas public schools, 80% cent of our Tyler campuses fall in the lower half of academic results. Every day our community turns a blind eye to these poor academic results for our Tyler schools is a day that the future for these kids grows dimmer. Our message will not change. We’re going to continue to insist that our school board and our administration work harder and come up with a better plan to produce higher academic results for all of our Tyler schools.”

Elsewhere in the county, the only proposition on the Whitehouse ballot would allow beer and wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores. That measure has passed. For: 503 Against 478.

Longview voters have approved a proposition that pertains to legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. Voters approved grocery and convenience stores in the historically dry areas of west and north Longview being able to sell beer and wine, but not hard liquor. That, and the other propositions on the ballot passed.
Off Premise beer/wine sales For: 2,018 Against 1,180
Proposition 2-Shall the City Charter be amended so that it requires a one hundred dollar ($100) filing fee or a petition for candidacy in lieu of a filing fee? For: 2,325 Against: 701
Proposition 3-Shall the City Charter be amended to provide for a twelve (12) month residency requirement of the Mayor and members of the City Council? For: 2,914 Against: 189.