HOUSTON — With just weeks remaining until voters cast ballots over a $4.4 billion bond proposal for the Houston Independent School District, dueling coalitions held simultaneous events promoting their positions on the measure.
Houston voters will head to the polls on Nov. 5 and will have to decide whether to approve or reject the bond proposal. The bond would be the first in 12 years and aims to improve infrastructure, security and technology at district campuses among other efforts.
If approved, the bond would be the largest in the state's history.
One event on Thursday was held at the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, where several groups voiced opposition to the bond and encouraged people to vote 'no' on the measure.
Speakers acknowledged needs for the district, but expressed skepticism and distrust of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles and the state-appointed board of managers.
"Mike Miles continues his path of destruction and no matter how painful it is to us, we must say no trust, no bond," Houston Federation of Teachers president Jackie Anderson said at the news conference.
The groups speaking included representatives from the Republican and Democratic parties, Houston Federation of Teachers, the NAACP and LULAC among others. One of the speakers was former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner.
"This is not the time for parents and voters to vote yes and turn it over to people that we do not trust," Turner said of the bond measure.
At a separate event held at the same time, groups supporting the bond said the measure was an important opportunity to improve HISD schools.
"This is about the future of our children," Dr. Bob Sanborn, the president and CEO of the organization Children at Risk, said at the news conference.
The event, held at Benavidez Elementary School, included Mental Health America, the Houston Food Bank and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
"The bond is taking as essential steps to ensure that students and staff learn and work in facilities that are equipped to provide a safe learning environment," said Dr. Jamie Freeny the director of the Center for School Behavioral Health at Mental Health America.
Supporters pushed back against those speaking against approving the bond, saying a rejection of the measure could further add to an already difficult situation for HISD campuses.
"I think this is an opportunity for some people to say, you know, 'I don't have trust, I don't like that the state took over our schools,'" Sanborn said. "But I'm saying [...] there's a whole group of kids that were delaying stuff for if we do that."
Parents against the bond said the issue comes down to trust of the current state-appointed administration.
"Do we trust Mike Miles and his administration to spend that money so effectively that the money last long enough that we're not going to need another bond in ten years?" HISD parent Liz Silva told KHOU 11. "That's one of the main concerns."