Early Voting has begun!!

Early voting has begun on Oct 21st. It has been very encouraging to see all the folks at the polling stations. We need each and every one of you to go vote! Say Yes! An investment in schools is equivalent to an investment in your kids' education, in your property values and to your community as a whole! Please find an early voting location close to you and make your voice heard.

Letters to the editor - 4

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

October 17, 2013

 

Dear Editor,

The voters in Alvin ISD should know the facts about the November 5 bond election, especially about the new junior high in Manvel. The combined student capacity at Manvel Jr. High at Rodeo Palms and Nolan Ryan Jr. High  is 2,000 students, but currently has 2,067 with a projection of 2,300 by 2015.  It is essential that this school be built because of the shortage of classroom seats and the educational hardship it will place on our kids if we don’t.

What are the facts about the decision to locate Manvel Junior High on McCoy Rd. and what is the traffic impact? Alvin ISD owns land just north of Manvel High School and after a two year search, which included collaboration and input from Manvel city officials, the site was chosen because it has the roads, public water and sewer, utilities, drainage and ground elevation above the flood plain. Roads and utilities are a necessity that is not readily available in all areas of Manvel. Since Alvin ISD owns the property it eliminates the need for additional money to buy new land. The most important reason though - this location is what’s best for kids! 

TxDOT owns and controls the light at the intersection of Hwy. 6 and McCoy Rd. and recently made adjustments to the traffic light’s timing and detection controls  to improve traffic cycles at peak school hours.  A professional traffic study for the school site on McCoy Rd. was commissioned by Alvin ISD to analyze traffic patterns, roadways, and assure that mobility standards are met. It included analyzing Manvel High School’s traffic as well.  The study revealed that peak traffic hours are 7:40 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. Afternoon traffic peak times last from 2:50 dismissal until “all clear” by 3:06, which is pretty quick for a high school with 2,500+ students and staff. It takes almost that long to turn east out of Manvel City Hall at 4:30 p.m.

Start and dismissal times for the new junior high are 8:40 a.m. and 4 p.m. and will occur an hour later than the high school start and dismissal times. With an hour difference in these times, peak traffic times will not stack or overlap.

The study provided recommendations for driveways, turn lanes, and  minor adjustments to public streets to facilitate the traffic on McCoy Rd. All the information in the traffic study was shared with the City Manager and City Engineer of Manvel. TxDOT and the Traffic Engineer concur that traffic management and traffic volumes from the schools on McCoy Rd meet or exceed acceptable guidelines.

The 2013 Citizen’s Advisory Committee and similar groups in 2009 and 2011, as well as the 2013 public survey, support building this junior high in Manvel. I think people should know the facts and be informed.  Distorting the facts only creates confusion.  An educated vote favors the well-being of our kids and community and supports the need to build this new junior high in Manvel.

 

Amy Roudbari

Letters to the editor - 3

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

September  25, 2013

Dear Editor,

Alvin ISD, parts of which are on the west side of Pearland,  is one of the fastest growing school districts in the Houston area and has done a good job of keeping up with the growth over the last decade. We must help continue that trend so that overcrowding can be prevented, appropriate buildings and classrooms can be provided, travel distances between home and school can be limited, our investment in our school facilities can be protected and personal property values can be strengthened.  Investing in our schools is an investment in our community because appropriate and attractive school buildings are the centers of the community. They reflect our community’s values and they protect property values. They are an investment in our children, our community, and our future.

There are parts of Alvin ISD that are in the city limits of Pearland. Specifically, the Shadow Creek Ranch, Southern Trail and Pearland Town Center area where Alvin ISD has land designated for a third high school. A bond election will be held on November 5, 2013 that includes construction of the third Alvin ISD high school and much more. All of the projects will improve our children’s learning environments , equip our students for college and a competitive workplace with upgraded technology,  keep pace with the growth of our district by building new schools and protect our children with enhanced safety and security at all campuses. A complete list of all the projects can be founded at www.alvinisd.net.

Keeping up is much more cost-effective than catching up and keeping up with growth, something Alvin ISD has done extremely well, is much more cost-effective than the

alternative. Our school leaders would not be asking taxpayers for these funds if they weren’t critical to the long-term health of our schools. They’ve done their homework. Our school leaders are making the best decisions for students and taxpayers. We have good people running our school district who understand the need to stretch every tax dollar to its limit. Alvin ISD leaders, who are taxpayers themselves, are making the best decisions possible with our dollars. That’s why the state of Texas gives Alvin ISD a Superior Achievement Rating for fiscal responsibility.

So what is the  projected tax impact? The average homeowner will see an increase of no more than $11.22 a month and if you are 65 years of age or over, your taxes will not increase as a result of this bond election. The school tax rate and the amount paid are frozen when a taxpayer turns 65 years old, but you must request this status by contacting the Brazoria County Appraisal District  at http://www.brazoriacad.org or  call (979) 849-7792. I urge you to study the proposal and vote yes on November 5. Early voting starts October 21. To learn more, go to www.voteyesalvinisdbond.com.

Shirley Brothers

Letters to the editor - 2

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

September 25, 2013

Dear Editor,

 Alvin ISD has a bond election coming up on November 5, 2013, with early voting starting on October 21. I hope you will join me in voting YES for this important bond issue. Many have asked “what if we do nothing?”  Based upon the current growth in student enrollment and the projections of more students coming, Alvin ISD will gain more that 3200 new students before new and/or additional facilities would be available if this bond issue is not passed this year. Each year that it is delayed, Alvin ISD is projected to add another 800 students (that is equivalent to an elementary school a year).  If the bond issue does not pass, prolonged use of temporary buildings will be necessary and their  use can be as much as $35,000 per unit. Building permanent classroom space keeps the district from spending money for the same space multiple times. Also if it does not pass, adjusting student attendance zones will become necessary as schools exceed their capacity, which requires additional bussing of students. Many campuses are already over capacity and more campuses will become overcrowded if the bond issue is not passed this year. Security concerns that can only be addressed with extensive facility and equipment improvements are best provided with bond funds, so not passing this bond issue limits what the district can do in terms of providing needed safety projects. A successful bond issue this year is the fastest way to address safety concerns which are priorities. Consider too, that if this bond issue does not pass, teachers will have limited resources to incorporate technology into instruction as they prepare our students for this digital society.  Providing additional facilities for Career and Technical (vocational) Education is critical and if the bond issue does not pass, course offerings and the district’s ability to offer industry skills and certification programs will be limited. With the resurgence of the construction industry and the potential increase in interest rates, facility costs will be impacted if the bond issue is not passed. It’s also very possible that class size and teacher-student ratios could be impacted if it does not pass. There are even more issues that are a stake if this bond issue does not pass, but I think you get the picture. This bond issue is critical to this community, to our school district, to our kids and to their future. Please join me in voting YES on November 5 (or at an early voting location beginning October 21). It’s what’s best for kids and what’s best for our community. 

David Becker

Letters to the editor - 1

Many of the citizens of Alvin have written letters to the editors of the local newspapers favoring the Alvin ISD Bond and encouraging everyone to vote in favor of this bond. We'll be publishing a few of them here, in case you missed them.

October 4, 2013

Dear Editor,

The Alvin Independent School District has almost 20,000 reasons for wanting the best educational programs and facilities – our children. Each of these 20,000 children these is our future and our most important investment. On November 5, 2013 voters in the Alvin ISD will consider a bond proposal designed to address the needs of our schools through new construction, expansion, and renovation.

            The district has seen dramatic increases in student enrollment in the past five years, causing severe overcrowding and the use of numerous portable buildings at almost every campus. The time has come to make improvements so that Alvin ISD can still provide the high-quality education for which it has long been noted. 

Approval of this bond issue is a win-win situation for the district.    The kids win - we win - and Alvin ISD can continue to sustain the outstanding reputation that we have long enjoyed. I am a proud product of Alvin ISD and wish for every child in Alvin ISD to have the same opportunity that I had. Please vote YES on Nov. 5 or during early voting which begins Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 1.

Thanks,

Chad Gormly

                        

Citizen's Advisory Committee:  Report to Alvin ISD Board, June 24, 2013

Disclaimer:  these are not the formal minutes of the meeting - they are simply my personal notes from attending the meeting.  Hopefully, Alvin ISD will publish the full CAC report and minutes of the meeting soon.

I attended the meeting last night and listened to the CAC recommendations to the board.  In total, they are recommending that the board call a bond to be put to the voters this November.  Their recommendations include quite a few items, including new elementary and middle schools.  They are also recommending that a third high school be built and that is the focus of this post.  At the moment, the name for the high school is Alvin ISD High School #3 and it will be built on land already purchased at FM 518 and Kirby Drive.

The CAC studied demographic data that shows that Alvin ISD is adding 800-900 students per year and this growth will continue over the next 5 years.  The CAC also cited a survey of the Alvin ISD community that shows very favorable sentiment for their recommendations.

Design is currently underway for Alvin ISD HS #3, but it is not yet completed.  One interesting note is that the land for this school will not be sufficient for a varsity stadium or natatorium (the CAC is recommending that land be purchased for a district stadium and natatorium). The design process for the new high school will continue throughout the rest of this year - at first glance, it looks like it will be a wonderful high school for our district's students.

If the bond passes, the intent is to begin construction on the new high school in April/May of 2014.  The expected completion date is April of 2016 and the new high school will open for the 2016/2017 school year.

The Alvin ISD Board will vote either in July or August to call for a bond to be placed on the November ballot. Once the board votes to put a bond up for election, our work begins - we need to make sure that the Alvin ISD community is informed about the need for the bond and work as a community to ensure a very high pro-bond voter turnout.

This is very exciting news for our community and our district!

Response to emails we have received

A couple of concerns have been raised that I want to address.  This site has a very narrow focus:  to increase community awareness of AISD plans for a third high school, to encourage a more active dialogue between the residents of our community and AISD, and to advocate for an area high school to open its doors no later than 2016/2017.

My perspective on this issue has no negative reflection on Manvel HS whatsoever. I do not have children attending high school as yet, but I have neighbors who are very pleased with their childrens' experiences there. 

It is absolutely true that AISD plans to build a third high school.  The issue is timing.  When I attended last week's meeting, it was evident to me that there has been a huge amount of confusion and emotion surrounding this issue.  There were quite a few NRJH parents there who came to the meeting believing their children would have a new high school in a year or two's time.  There were also several folks who raised their hands when asked if they were considering moving to Pearland ISD because of this issue.  Because of that sentiment, we included the poll regarding Dawson versus Manvel. 

I absolutely applaud AISD's efforts to improve communication with our area and I believe the Alvin Community Forum on May 29th at 7:00 p.m. at the NRJH cafeteria will be a great start. 

My recitation of the steps to get a high school in our area is certainly a high level summary of what I learned at last week's meeting.  I am certain that Dr. Brent will fill in whatever gaps there are in my explanation. 

I realize there will be a variety of perspectives for folks on this issue.  Some will be concerned about taxes, about extracurricular activities available in a new school, and the differences between a 4A and 5A school.  I invite all to share their perspectives on this site - that is one of the reasons it was created. 

I ask all to consider how their awareness and involvement in this issue will affect our community as a whole in the years to come.  It is very common for local elections and local issues to be neglected by voters.  We have a chance to be a voice heard by AISD.  I sincerely hope that we all take this opportunity. 

Thank you to all of you who have been forwarding the original email - it is greatly appreciated!  Please subscribe on the blog site and post your comments.  It might also be a great opportunity to pose specific questions that you would like Dr. Brent to address.

Way to go - pls keep forwarding that email!

From what I know, my original email has now reached approximately 150 SCR area residents.  Thank you!  Please keep forwarding to others you know in our area and don't forget to make comments, subscribe, and like us on your Facebook pages.