Schools in Fort Worth will see a lot of improvements after voters there approved the largest bond package ever in Tarrant County — $750 million.
FWISD Superintendent Kent Scribner explained that the first part of the proposition is being called a "penny swap." It would allow two cents to be added to a maintenance and operation budget and two cents taken from debt.
"That triggers the state, matching those dollars," Scribner said. "It brings dollars that are right now left on the table in Austin."
"[It] will allow us to invest in our elementary and middle schools in areas like instructional technology, repairs and renovations," Scribner added.
Most of the money from the bond package will go to the district's 14 high schools for needed renovations and improvements.
"We not only want to invest in the mechanical systems, the plumbing [and] electrical, but we want to make sure that their science labs and the technological infrastructure is upgraded," Scribner said.
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Parents at Tanglewood Elementary School say the bond measure would ease overcrowding there.
The school, which was built for fewer than 600 students, now has 874 students enrolled. Passing the school bond means the Fort Worth ISD will spend $28 million on a new elementary school in the neighborhood.
"We've been waiting for this for a very long time, so it's something that will be beneficial for everybody involved," said Carrie McPadden, Tanglewood parent and president of the Tanglewood PTA.
Because property values are going up, there is no tax rate increase.
