Greenville voters on Saturday rejected Greenville ISD’s proposed bond issue for $169.4 million for facility improvements. However, both running office bearers in the school board elections, Anne Haynes and Bonnie-Jean Stewart, retained their seats.
When the votes were counted late Saturday, 1,402 people (56.65%) voted against the bond and 1,073 (43.35%) voted for it.
“We respect the decision of our voters, and we will focus on our future plans to best serve our students with anti-aging facilities,” said GISD superintendent. Sharon Booth said in a prepared statement.
“We will need to purchase or lease portable buildings, and will consider making necessary adjustments in relocating students and staff to other facilities as needed,” she said. “We will study it closely and share the details once the final plan is made.
“The Board and I will discuss our options and share our thoughts on accommodating growth in the near future.”
The rejected bond issue had demanded:
• A new school, accommodating 1,400 students, to replace the 72-year-old Greenville Middle School. ($105.1 million).
• The 72-year-old LP Waters Early Childhood Center has been replaced by a new pre-K building that can accommodate 500 students ($31.1 million).
• Renovation of the interior of the 40-year-old high school to create additional learning space and allow for more instructional options ($23.6 million).
• Construction of an agricultural science facility with instructional space and livestock raising capacity ($6.5 million).
• Improving the district’s transportation service facility ($3.1 million).
Apart from Bond, elections were to be held at two places of the school board on Saturday.
For District 1, the incumbent Anne Haynes (who has served on the board for 23 years) won with 57 votes (70.37%) against challenger Cedric Dean, who received 24 votes (29.63%).
For District 3, Bonnie-Jean Stewart (who was appointed after Jana Stephens resigned) won 361 votes against challengers Colleen McDonald’s 157 votes (23.68%) and Gary Clint Sickle’s 145 (21.87%). (54.45%) won.
