Updated 09/27/2007 11:59:41 PM CDT

 

BEAUMONT - On one side, supporters of a $388.6 million Beaumont school bond issue say voters cannot afford not to move forward with paying for much-needed, long-delayed improvements.

On the other side, opponents say the project is flawed and too big, especially in light of their lack of trust in school administrators.

 

The two sides took center stage Thursday before the Press Club of Southeast Texas and will continue trying to draw the public's ear in the weeks remaining until the Nov. 6 bond election.

Early voting on the proposition starts in less than a month, running Oct. 22 to Nov. 2.

Dr. David Teuscher, co-chair of the Community Bond Advisory Committee, keeps fine-tuning a PowerPoint presentation as he works in forums around the city to sway voters in favor of the bond.

"I can tell you without a doubt we have a tremendous need and we have a tremendous obligation," Teuscher said Thursday in a technology-free talk. The trust issue, he said, boils down to whether schoolchildren can trust voters to do what's necessary.

"We're teetering on the edge of losing our city," Teuscher said, stressing a need for better school buildings to spur growth rather than population loss in Beaumont.

Tom Neild, who spoke on behalf of those opposed to the bond issue, said he appreciated the committee's work and meant no disrespect, but had problems with some aspects of the proposal.

A major concern is "just the sheer size of this bond issue," Neild, a construction contractor, said. He questioned the validity of the facility study by Parsons 3DI used to develop the list of district needs and how bond proceeds would be spent. The study looked at the age of buildings, not how well they have been maintained, Neild said.

"The problem I have with this whole report is, new is not always better," Neild said.

The bond plan would build nine new elementary schools to replace 14 existing ones. The other five elementary schools would have renovations or expansions aimed at removing all portable buildings.

The plan also calls for a new South Park Middle School, at a new site if possible or if necessary at the existing site, retaining as much historic structure as possible.

Neild questioned the projection of $1 million per campus in operational savings for five elementary campuses to be combined with other schools. Figures he received from the school district showed maintenance costs of about $300,000 per campus, he said.

School board member Martha Hicks said other savings would come from needing fewer principals, nurses, librarians and teachers; from energy efficiencies in newer buildings; and from utility costs.

Relocating Regina-Howell Elementary School to a larger site is part of the plan. Michael Getz, a Beaumont attorney, asked whether Rogers Park at the intersection of Dowlen and Phelan was one of the sites being considered, and he made it clear he thought it was a bad idea.

Teuscher confirmed the park was one of two sites identified. The other he would identify only as being in that elementary school's zone.

Builder Richard Guseman said he had a problem with the lack of specificity in the proposal.

"You have to have something specific," Guseman said. "Let's do five new elementary schools. ... Show the voters that you can come in under budget and regain trust."

Neild said a smaller proposal also would have the advantage of giving local builders more opportunity to participate in construction.

 

Teuscher noted this bond proposal likely is the first of several phases. Even if voters authorize borrowing for this round of construction, more money will be needed later for more extensive improvements to middle schools and high schools, he said.

If voters fail to approve the bond issue, opponents will have the responsibility to help research and come up with a proposal the community will support, Neild said.

Teuscher said he will have a job the day after Election Day either way: to provide community oversight for construction of bond-funded projects if it passes or to come up with a new proposal if it fails.

A meeting for those with bond issue concerns organized by Neild is planned at 6 p.m. Thursday at the R.C. Miller Library, 1605 Dowlen Road. Bond proponents also plan to attend.