With all of the hoopla surrounding the river, who would have thought that the first casualty of the November referendum would be DISD’s proposed construction bond, which also had been considered for the same election? Of course, I’m jumping ahead a bit because DISD’s board hasn’t officially set the election date. But according to a News story this morning, it’s looking more and more like the construction plan vote will be delayed until May.
Neighborhood resident Craig Reynolds, a neighborhood architect who helped lead 2002’s $1.37 billion DISD successful bond vote, told the school board that all of the fireworks that will surround the Trinity vote could very well overshadow DISD’s vote. Craig, whose firm is active with a number of school and public projects, is probably right: Regardless of which way the worm turns in November, the election is probably going to be a pretty messy event, and there’s no point in taking a chance on voters angry with the way the Trinity is being handled tubing DISD’s much-needed funds request.
One other potential impact, according to the News story, is a possible delay in Parkland Hospital’s plan to build a new $700 million (or so) hospital, which also requires voter approval. The DISD board was told that if the district moves its election to May, Parkland might wait to hold its vote until November 2008.
