The School-Bond Lowdown

After months of discussion, the Austin Independent School District is moving forward with a $343 million bond proposal. At the district's Feb. 18 meeting, the AISD board of trustees instructed staff to work on language for three bond propositions for the May ballot. The first two split the recommendations of the Citizens' Bond Advisory Committee: • Proposition 1 proposes $187 million for new classrooms and technology investment; • Proposition 2 proposes $74 million for essential repairs and legal compliance issues.

In a literally last-minute decision, the board created a third proposition of board proposals worth $82 million, including $32 million for land for a high school in Southwest Austin, $10 million for school and band-hall repairs at Anderson High, and $40 million for a districtwide performing-arts center. The board calls this an interim bond, before a comprehensive bond in May 2010. Board members plan to issue a call for an election at their next meeting on Feb. 25.