Abilene school district officials tell the local newspaper that their “New Year’s Resolution” is to increase taxpayers’ debt this May by $85.2 million, or $5,126 per student. This would include spending $2 million on a new press box for the local football stadium.
The district’s superintendent, David Polnick, tells the Abilene Reporter-News that his “job is to inform the public why the bond is needed.” Funny, and I always thought the superintendent’s job was to push papers… Now we learn it’s to increase spending and guilt people into debt!
The bond package also includes a lot of money for new construction as well as building renovations. They’re even stressing how much “security” they will be buying.
The sales-psycology makes twisted sense: you tell a bunch of soccer mom’s that the money will make junior safe, and they’ll vote to send everyone in the region to the poor-house.
Just 4 years ago the district convinced voters to take on $76.5 million ($4,544 per child)in debt for reconstruction. According to the Abilene Reporter-News, “schools slated for remodeling … will not be able to get all the renovations that were promised.”
Having already demonstrated that they couldn’t effectively manage the last multi-million debt package, the school district now wants to go further in debt. What a plan!
So in four years, Abilene ISD will have increased its debt-per-student by $10,000. And test scores… Flat. But, come now, don’t get caught up in silly things like performance! We’re talking about a new press box here! And security!
Pay up, Abilene.
