School tax will rise
New HSPVA school building in downtown Houston is part of proposed HISD bondpackage
The Houston Independent School District Board must decide by August whether the$1.89 billion bond will be put to Houston voters.
Included in the package is approximately $80 million for a new High School forthe Performing and Visual Arts facility in downtown that will replace thecurrent Montrose-area building.Photo by WhisperToMe/Wiki
Think about the 1950s, when Jim Crow laws still existed and people considered Elvis Presley a controversial figure.
Now take a look around today. It's obvious that a lot has changed in 60 years; Terry Grier, superintendent of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), wants those innovations to be reflected in all of the district's 279 schools.
On Thursday, Grier presented a $1.89 billion bond package to the HISD Board of Education, which allocates $225 million to district-wide projects and $1.67 billion to facility improvements at 42 schools.
Respondents cited AC and electrical issues, ventilation problems, dated technology, lack of storage, restrooms and adequate lighting, plus mice and mold.
One among eight high schools considered ripe for a complete facility replacement is the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which has occupied the former Montrose Elementary School since January 1982.
Current satisfaction levels for that building are dismal: Of the parents, teachers and community members surveyed, 78.6 percent admit to being "somewhat dissatisfied" with its state. The remaining 21.4 percent are "very dissatisfied."
Respondents cited AC and electrical issues, ventilation problems, dated technology, lack of storage, restrooms and adequate lighting, plus mice and mold.
The building was considered outdated when HSPVA moved in 30 years ago, and current complaints paint a picture of a cold, dark and damp facility — more like a medieval dungeon than a nationally-recognized breeding ground for the arts.
An HISD-owned parking lot at 1300 Capitol Street is the proposed site for a new, $80 million building. The block — which formerly housed the HISD headquarters, and before that Sam Houston High School, and before that Central High School — is situated downtown, just six blocks from the Theater District.
The board must decide by August whether to seek voter approval for the bond package during the November elections. According to HISD estimations, "the tax rate increase would be phased in over a 4-year period, beginning with an estimated 2-cent increase in 2014."
