ISD Panel Urges GO Vote

The North East Independent School District's citizens planning and advisory committee has recommended that the San Antonio district call a general obligation bond election in November.

The committee said voters should be asked to decide on the same $399.4 million bond package that had been set for an election in April but then withdrawn at the recommendation of superintendent Richard Middleton.

Trustees must approve a November election by Sept. 7.

The ISD board called for an April 2011 election on the bond package, but withdrew the proposal less than two weeks later. Middleton said the vote should be deferred until Texas lawmakers adopted a budget for fiscal 2012-2013 due to uncertainties over state funding for local education.

The original bond proposal earmarked $65 million for a new middle school, $48 million for renovations and additions at one high school, and $32 million for classroom additions at another. Other projects included $64 million for technology upgrades and $45 million for new classrooms to replace portable buildings at three elementary schools.

The district's $1.3 billion of outstanding GO debt is rated Aa1 by Moody's Investors Service and AA-minus by Standard & Poor's. It is enhanced to triple-A through coverage from the Texas Permanent School Fund.

Voters approved bond packages of $498 million in 2007, $149 million in 2005, $300 million in 2004, and $155.8 million in 2000. The district has no authorized but unissued debt.

NEISD is the second-largest school district in Bexar County and the eighth largest in Texas, with more than 66,000 students.

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