HOUSTON — Harris County voters said no to HISD‘s $4.4 billion bond. Most of that money was slated for critical infrastructure projects.
But with that money now off the table, the question becomes: What’s next?
Conceding the bond, HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said the politics of adults beat out the needs of our children.
On Wednesday, he told KHOU 11 the district was banking on that money, but now they will have to explore other options.
"The kids need these facilities. It has nothing to do with the politics or the adult issues -- the adult agendas. This is about kids," Miles said.
During an interview on KHOU 11 Morning News, Miles said lies from opponents torpedo the bond.
"But when the (teachers) union is just misinformed and lies, it has no solution. We’ll ask them the next time we have an air conditioner problem and we have to close the school for the day. Or when they go and there's broken toilets and holes in the floor, what is their solution?” Miles said.
Opponents said the issue is the lack of trust in the state-appointed superintendent himself.
“We cannot release one penny, let alone $4.4 billion, to a human who cannot manage the money that we have in hand right now,” said Christi Brewster, with the Houston Federation of Teachers.
With no bond money coming in, Miles said the district will turn to applying for grants and appealing to the state. Already strapped for cash, they'll ask the Texas Education Agency for additional support.
"I worry, I guess, about what it means that we have passed by this opportunity to make a much-needed investment in our schools but I hope there's an opportunity sooner rather than later to make this investment that our kids deserve,” said Cary Wright, with Good Reason Houston.
Most agree the district has aging campuses in need of work but the issue of trust was too hard to overcome.
“Hardly anyone that I know thinks that there aren't schools in a lot of need around Houston. Absolutely there are ... just we cannot trust someone who is so untrustworthy,” HISD parent Briana Mohan said.
Experts said the district could propose a new bond during the next election. KHOU 11 reached out to ask if that is an option and is waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, people with HFT said they’d rather wait out the state takeover before spending big on the district with Miles at the helm.