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Bond Committee Member Ron Gherman presents a revised bond draft to Bandera ISD board trustees.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
August 18, 2023
Bandera ISD board approves $40 million bond election
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a bond election for this November, during which voters will decide whether to approve a $40 million bond.
After the previous $79.5 million bond failed to pass in May, the 50-member bond committee reconvened to analyze what went wrong, and what voters want. Committee Member Ron Gherman said the committee conducted informal surveys and polls, and talked to neighbors and parents. The overwhelming sentiment, he said, was that citizens did not support a bond while their property taxes skyrocketed.
“Home value increases affected a lot of voters in May,” Gherman told the BISD board during their regular meeting on Monday.
So the committee listened, and made changes. After several meetings, a new proposal was announced - $40 million emphasizing school safety, and no impact to the BISD tax rate. If the bond passes, the BISD I&S tax rate will remain the same at .1238.
“We need to keep our kids safe,” Gherman said.
In addition to security at all campuses, the package incorporates the highest priority items from the original proposal, including ADA compliance renovations, air conditioning at the elementary schools, and a CTE (Career and Technical Education) center at the high school.
The CTE center would provide space for ag/welding (currently in portables with doors pulled down and no ventilation), nursing (currently held in shared science classrooms), culinary arts (currently sharing space in the cafeteria and a classroom), floral design (currently in a classroom with no refrigeration), robotics, and animal science/livestock production.
“This would be a whole game changer,” Gherman said, adding if approved, the facility would be built near the softball field parking area, replacing six portable buildings. “We’re turning out great kids who are getting jobs. Most of them have to go to San Antonio to finish. I think we could keep them here.”
In November, voters will also cast their ballots for a proposed constitutional amendment that increases the property homestead exemption from $50,000 to $100,000. If it passes, Gherman said, homeowners could see a reduction on their property tax statements - even with bond approval.
To help get the word out, Gherman said the committee will have better opportunities to reach parents in the fall, unlike the spring before the May election. In addition to feet on the ground, he said the committee is utilizing social media and marketing companies to share information with voters.
“I don’t think you can turn all the nos into yesses, but there were many people who did not have all of the information,” BISD Trustee Laurie Neff said of the May election. “It’s not about turning people into villains for whether they support it or not support it. It’s about getting information out.”
Also on the ballot will be the BISD Trustee Election. Open positions are Place One, currently held by Casey Hauer, and Place Two, currently held by Neff, who said she would be stepping down.
The election will be Nov. 7. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 10. Early voting will take place from Monday, Oct. 23 to Friday, Nov. 3.
In other business, the district will apply for a Good Cause Exemption to House Bill 3, which requires an armed officer on all school campuses during the school day. The legislation passed earlier this year, and school districts statewide have until Sept. 1 to comply.
BISD has two Student Resource Officers (SROs) provided by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office, but personnel shortages at the Sheriff’s Office will prevent the addition of two more SROs to cover each of the district’s four campuses. BISD is a guardian district with trained educators and employees, as well as a school marshal that may be implemented.
“Our board has approved the funding…our sheriff’s office does not have the personnel they need,” BISD Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said, adding the board would discuss its alternative plan during the next regular meeting.
After the previous $79.5 million bond failed to pass in May, the 50-member bond committee reconvened to analyze what went wrong, and what voters want. Committee Member Ron Gherman said the committee conducted informal surveys and polls, and talked to neighbors and parents. The overwhelming sentiment, he said, was that citizens did not support a bond while their property taxes skyrocketed.
“Home value increases affected a lot of voters in May,” Gherman told the BISD board during their regular meeting on Monday.
So the committee listened, and made changes. After several meetings, a new proposal was announced - $40 million emphasizing school safety, and no impact to the BISD tax rate. If the bond passes, the BISD I&S tax rate will remain the same at .1238.
“We need to keep our kids safe,” Gherman said.
In addition to security at all campuses, the package incorporates the highest priority items from the original proposal, including ADA compliance renovations, air conditioning at the elementary schools, and a CTE (Career and Technical Education) center at the high school.
The CTE center would provide space for ag/welding (currently in portables with doors pulled down and no ventilation), nursing (currently held in shared science classrooms), culinary arts (currently sharing space in the cafeteria and a classroom), floral design (currently in a classroom with no refrigeration), robotics, and animal science/livestock production.
“This would be a whole game changer,” Gherman said, adding if approved, the facility would be built near the softball field parking area, replacing six portable buildings. “We’re turning out great kids who are getting jobs. Most of them have to go to San Antonio to finish. I think we could keep them here.”
In November, voters will also cast their ballots for a proposed constitutional amendment that increases the property homestead exemption from $50,000 to $100,000. If it passes, Gherman said, homeowners could see a reduction on their property tax statements - even with bond approval.
To help get the word out, Gherman said the committee will have better opportunities to reach parents in the fall, unlike the spring before the May election. In addition to feet on the ground, he said the committee is utilizing social media and marketing companies to share information with voters.
“I don’t think you can turn all the nos into yesses, but there were many people who did not have all of the information,” BISD Trustee Laurie Neff said of the May election. “It’s not about turning people into villains for whether they support it or not support it. It’s about getting information out.”
Also on the ballot will be the BISD Trustee Election. Open positions are Place One, currently held by Casey Hauer, and Place Two, currently held by Neff, who said she would be stepping down.
The election will be Nov. 7. The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 10. Early voting will take place from Monday, Oct. 23 to Friday, Nov. 3.
In other business, the district will apply for a Good Cause Exemption to House Bill 3, which requires an armed officer on all school campuses during the school day. The legislation passed earlier this year, and school districts statewide have until Sept. 1 to comply.
BISD has two Student Resource Officers (SROs) provided by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office, but personnel shortages at the Sheriff’s Office will prevent the addition of two more SROs to cover each of the district’s four campuses. BISD is a guardian district with trained educators and employees, as well as a school marshal that may be implemented.
“Our board has approved the funding…our sheriff’s office does not have the personnel they need,” BISD Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said, adding the board would discuss its alternative plan during the next regular meeting.