Two suburban Dallas school bond proposals appeared likely to pass, as of late Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Lancaster ISD asked\u00a0voters to approve borrowing\u00a0$376 million, and Arlington ISD put forth a $501 million package. Only one proposition, for athletic facilities in Arlington, faced significant opposition. By a slim margin, voters opposed Proposition C, according to incomplete election returns with most voting centers still not reporting as of 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
As they left\u00a0the polls, several\u00a0residents\u00a0told\u00a0The Dallas Morning News\u00a0they\u00a0voted\u00a0to\u00a0approve the\u00a0bond\u00a0proposals, because they want\u00a0ensure\u00a0robust buildings for future students. Others\u00a0opted \u201cno\u201d out of fear of\u00a0tax increases.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In general, state funding\u00a0can\u00a0be used\u00a0only for\u00a0day-to-day expenses, like teacher salaries and supplies. Districts call bond elections to raise money for major construction projects that can take many years. Law requires districts to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLancaster ISD\n<\/p>\n
If approved in its entirety,\u00a0L<\/a>ancaster ISD\u2019s\u00a0 $376 million bond proposal<\/a>\u00a0would\u00a0finance\u00a0upgrades across all elementary school campuses, revamp athletic equipment\u00a0and buildings, upgrade technology and more.\u00a0The\u00a0bond does not come with a\u00a0tax rate increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to 9:30 p.m. voting returns, all four propositions in Lancaster\u00a0ISD were trending toward approval, with margins ranging from 63% in favor of Proposition B to 58% in favor of Proposition\u00a0C.<\/p>\n The bond package is split into four parts.\u00a0Coming in at\u00a0$322 million,\u00a0Proposition A is the largest and would direct funds toward improving campus amenities, like climate control systems,\u00a0plumbing and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tavia Gant, 59,\u00a0cast her vote at\u00a0Rolling Hills Elementary\u00a0and checked\u00a0\u201cyes\u201d for all propositions.\u00a0The retired teacher has been on the \u201cfront lines,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0and has seen desks, chairs and classroom conditions deteriorate.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur kids are our future,\u201d Gant said. \u201cThey need every opportunity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Lancaster ISD serves about 6,400 students across 12 schools.\u00a0Its last bond program in 2015 helped\u00a0build\u00a0Elsie Robertson Lancaster STEM Middle School, West Main Elementary and Pleasant Run Elementary.<\/p>\n Board President Marion Hamilton said it was about time the district held another bond election, as \u201cthere\u2019s always needs.\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0attributed the\u00a0bond\u2019s\u00a0likely\u00a0passage\u00a0to\u00a0successful efforts\u00a0to\u00a0inform\u00a0voters.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c[Trustees] have a workshop this week,\u201d she said. \u201cI’m sure everybody will be ecstatic.\u201d<\/p>\n \nArlington ISD\n<\/p>\n