School bond issues are usually easier than other types to sell to the public.
But just as in Tyler, the Henderson School District is running into some opposition.
It’s another Friday night in East Texas, and football is king.
And since that’s where the voters were tonight, the Henderson School District decided that’s where the polls should be. And some are crying foul.
The Henderson Independent School District is asking voters to approve a $39-million school bond proposal, and they want every vote they can get.
So, where better than to combine football and citizenship?
“It’s kind of underhanded if you ask me,” says Tina McCune of Grassroots America.
They have set up a polling station in the athletic building adjacent to the stadium and more to the point, adjacent to 5000 enthusiastic voters.
“There are plenty of polling places around town and we have early voting,’ McCune says. “There’s two weeks for voting. They want the bond to pass, and the people attending the football game are more inclined to vote yes when you come to the football field and everybody’s saying, vote yes, vote yes. You feel obligated.”
The most controversial portion of the proposal is the 700,000 for Astroturf on the football field.
“What do we need with Astroturf?” she asks. “And the pros and cons of Astroturf have yet to be discussed. It’s going to wear out, and it’s probably going to wear out before the loan is paid off.”
But proper notice was given and the voting is legal, so one could chalk it up to clever strategy.
“I just feel that taxing right now with the economy the way it is, it’s not targeted. It’s just for fluff,” she concluded.
The bonds are primarily to be used to replace a 57-year-old middle school and make improvements to two others.