Live Thought

Support Both San Angelo ISD Bonds to Create Opportunities for Your Children

By Taylor Kingman, Oct 20, 2018
 

OPINION — Public education is critical for the preservation of a thriving and free society. As with every area of society, a quality public education system must continue to improve and evolve to assure the tenets of student achievement and success are met.

Children must learn to read and write, just as they must learn to succeed. When children are good at something, anything, it inspires their desire to continue pursuing their potential. If we can create critical thinkers, who can communicate and collaborate with others, then we will foster a better future for the next generation.

All of us here in San Angelo, bear the responsibility to positively mold the next generations. San Angelo ISD is prioritizing and funding curriculum and professional development, but educators need spaces to perform their work.

The financing of the state public education system relies on the support of our community to improve infrastructure and create opportunities for future generations. Personally, we feel the cost of public education in our local taxes. San Angelo ISD is currently seeking community support to renovate and update buildings that previous generations of our community had the foresight and invest and create for their community.

Fortunately, San Angelo ISD has prudently lowered the local tax rate over the past several years as the appraised property values in our community have increased. Thus, as a community, our local school tax rate is nine cents below the state average.

As a parent, I hope to give my kids and their generation the best educational system possible. In San Angelo, we have a wonderfully diverse, hard working community. Every child in our city deserves quality educational opportunities and spaces in which to grow, learn, explore, create, achieve and succeed. Our goal should be to make our community stronger for the next generation and give each child an equitable opportunity for success.

A vote of yes for both school bonds, on the Nov. 6 ballot as Prop A & B, promotes that goal.

The district and its personnel follow the guidelines set forth by the Texas Ethics Commission and have created a website saisdbond.org, that provides facts about the upcoming bond election. Please take the time to make an informed decision regarding the bond election.

Early voting starts October 22 and Election Day is November 6.

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Comments

NV5T, Sat, 10/20/2018 - 14:16

I agree with Chon Wang - so much wasteful spending and y'all want more. I see many, many elderly San Angelo folks who can barely pay their bills but you folks just want to keep making it harder and harder on us all with more and more taxes. I don't have kids in San Angelo schools, why should I have to pay over 1200.00 a year of my hard earned money to support you and someone else's kids? Tired of it. Leave it as it is, do better with what you have.

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Not Prudent, Sat, 10/20/2018 - 15:40

The current bonds proposed are full of pork that isn’t needed. If and when a bond is proposed that deals with education and security alone and nothing else it will have my full support. Until then I will vote no.

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Bobo, Sat, 10/20/2018 - 17:26

It’s a no vote for me too. It’s ridiculous we voted no in May and now they are trying to ram it down our throats again. I guess they think if they keep putting it on the ballot every six months it will eventually pass. There should be a law that says whether it’s voted in or voted out you can’t bring it back up for “X” amount of years. Not to mention I’m tired of paying overpriced taxes to San Angelo ISD. I don’t even have kids that go there! Oh and apparently the proponents of this bond took a page out of the Democrats playbook. I’ve noticed someone spent a lot of money (hope it wasn’t our tax money) on their fancy dancy signs they’ve been putting out and right about that same time all of the signs that petioned for a “no” vote disappeared. Dirty dirty dirty. So now other people’s views don’t matter either. They will never get a yes vote from me.

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I just look at the fact that retired SAISD teachers usually end up being the chairmen or chairwoman of the local Democratic Party. Beto has done one thing for Texas. His signs show us where the local idiots live. Vote NO on both forms of Bondage.

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The problem with taxes is the state is not providing it's share anymore. Homework time. Look at funding from Austin. Has nothing to do with Beto or Rafael.

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My wife and I live off my retirement and disability. By the end of the month we have to eat can beans. So we will be voting NO and I agree with Chon Wang.

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Dr Kingman, these school bonds are complete foolishness. You haven’t paid back the last bond yet! How about you use your budget to repair restrooms BEFORE you pay for WiFi on busses & sports facility upgrades! I’m retired & have no kids in SAISD & I’m tired of my fixed income being wasted with near constant tax increases!

Old Salt is correct. This is a state problem, so stop making it a local problem! Go after your state reps & get them to fun our schools properly, instead of on the backs of the cash-strapped taxpayers. You’ll get a big fat NO on your wasteful school bond from me.

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One of the most republican counties in texas and you guys want to blame it on democrats? I guess the preacher was right, ignorance is forever. Just like in Washington and Austin, you all put them republicans in there, live with your vote and pay up!!

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Sorry doc... all this proselytizing isn’t gonna stop me and my squad from voting no to this never ending stream of bonds you and your crew keep trying to shove down our throats. You keep your propaganda homey, Ill keep my money ...

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A resounding "Hell No!" from the peanut gallery. Dr. Kingman should take note that the major concern is ridiculously irresponsible spending that citizens resent. Don't get distracted by the Blue vs. Red debate. Create a track record of spending wisely and frugally on matters of top priority and then, and only then, the voters may consent to acquiring more debt.

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It IS a blue/red debate. It all starts in Austin in that beautiful pinkish building. Local schools have to borrow money to make ends meet. But by all means spending wisely locally is a big part.

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I recall having a drink with an amigo on an upper-level floor in a building providing a gorgeous view down Congress Avenue toward the Capitol building. The ugliness exists inside the building, not on the outside.

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October 31, 2018, the Governor of Texas will be at the Concho Pearl, the same venue used by Congressman O' Rourke. Citizens can use this opportunity to ask him why funding for public education in Texas has been put on the backs of the ordinary folks and the burden lessened for oil companies and such. Feel free to phone a friend, State Rep. Darby, and ask him the same thing.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2018-09-21/texas-education-agency-on-the-money/

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