EANES ISD BOND PRIORITIES
Is it possible to obtain Eanes ISD bond
information
and then speak out regarding the
expenditure of your tax dollars?
Update:
Searching for information on the 2010 BOND?
Link here
No Freedom of Speech in Eanes ISD?
December 20, 2007
KeepEanesInformed requested public information showing the
"bond prioritization process" and in response,
Eanes ISD private attorney ELLEN SPALDING (FELDMAN & ROGERS) asked the Texas
Attorney General to allow Eanes ISD to withhold bond-related public information
citing the following reason:
"Ms.
Pharr has complained for years about the manner in which EISD chooses to spend its money."
Click here to read original request
Click here to read letter to OAG responding to Eanes ISD
request for OAG ruling
Click here to read OAG Ruling OR2007 1688
- Excerpt from OAG ruling: You
contend that the "drafts" you have marked are policymaking
documents that either will be released or have been released
to the public in their final form. You also state that the
remaining information at issue reflects communications
between the district's board, superintendent, and employees
that consists of advice, recommendations, and opinions
regarding the issues of "prioritization and use of bond
funds." Upon review, we determine that you may withhold
the drafts under section 552.111 of the Government Code.
Remember: Eanes ISD
has the legal right to release these drafts. Instead,
the district hired a private attorney in an effort to hide,
not provide the requested public information.
Now take a look at the accounting fiasco of
the last
Eanes ISD BOND PACKAGE by
CLICKING HERE.
Executive
Summary
- ...a number of
opportunities exist for EISD to improve controls in the program to
appropriately manage construction-related costs.
We
identified approximately $663,000
of questionable payments to
contractors that should be further examined by EISD as to whether
reimbursements to EISD for these payments are warranted.
The Eanes ISD Superintendent and Board are planning a
new bond proposal.
Will they try again?
In
2006, our community
voted down the bond
proposal by the Eanes
ISD leadership to
construct a $5.5.
million dollar indoor
football practice field
(also referred to as a
MAC and a natatorium.)
When the bond failed,
the board continued to
discuss the project.
While many aspects of
our schools are
suffering (both
facilities and programs)
is this costly dream
still alive and well
among those who lead our
district?
MARCH 2007 UPDATE
Bond
Priorities Update -
3/20/07 - Warning! Pay for the fields and then KEEP
OFF! Eanes ISD
Board just authorized the expenditure of millions of our
tax dollars to "change the scope" of the 2006
Bond Program and "authorize artificial turf and
lights for Westlake High School athletic fields.
See more below ...

Here are
the design options for the "Multipurpose
Practice Fields"
rendered by a tax-funded
architect. Sound
familiar? Like the
"Multipurpose Activity
Field" (actually a Covered
Football Field) turned down
by the voters? Perhaps
Eanes ISD will try to cover
the fields in a future bond? Review the
superintendent's March 19,
2007 recommendation
(approved by the Eanes ISD
board) stated as a "Change
in Scope of 2006 Bond
Program and Authorize
Artificial Turf and Lights
for Westlake High School
Practice Fields One and Two."
At the same time,
many
community members are concerned about other
issues ... such as safety, and the district's
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act. The following documents were
obtained using the Texas Public Information Act
and reflect specific issues by campus.
The ADA documents do not stand alone.
Rather, they a part of a voluminous report on
these issues including the Facility Analysis
Objectives Report.
Part 1 of 5
Part 2 of 5
Part
3 of 5
Part 4 of 5
Part 5 of 5
Note: These reports were requested pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act in September 2005 and January 2006. A portion of the reports were obtained over one year later after a formal complaint to the County Attorney when the district did not produce the public information as the Office of the Attorney General ruled.
Information obtained includes the following:
2000 SHW
Facilities Assessment Report (reflects ADA issues)
2001, 2002 -
SHW Facilities Assessment Report (reflects ADA issues) - Part 1 Part 2
Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
2003 - SHW
Facilities Assessment Report (reflects ADA issues)
2004 - EANES ISD "ADA ISSUES" - JUNE 11, 1004 - This oversized, color-shaded summary of past reports was produced SIX MONTHS after Nola Wellman began working in Eanes ISD.
Click here to inspect more ADA noncompliance reports funded by our tax dollars. Please note the dates span 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
May 2005 -
Eanes ISD Safety and Security Assessment
August 2006
Inspection Report Westlake High School
Prior ADA complaint in 2004 was closed by the
Office of Civil Rights in early 2007. OCR
phone log here
Check back for updates on the district's bond priorities.
"Bond Priorities"
link
- see menu bar on left side of this webpage.
District Bond Priorities
Check back for updates on the district's bond
priorities.
Proposition 1 passed
Proposition 2 failed ... proposed
$5 million "multi-purpose" turf-covered field was not approved by voters.
KeepEanesInformed has highlighted a
very important portion of this district document in red
... see below. Important because after voters reject
"Proposition 2" Eanes ISD leadership approved a CHANGE OF
SCOPE and will now add lighted, turf-covered "multi-purpose"
fields. Voters did not approve this expenditure in
advance. Watch for many other athletic upgrades, too.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED PROJECTS-PROPOSITION I
($53 million)
Estimated Costs
SAFETY AND SECURITY*
$3 million#
Fire alarm systems, surveillance cameras, other
communication systems (two-way radios, telephones, speakers), enhanced
access control (fencing, signage, doors), lightning protection for outdoor
areas
BUSES $3
million#
TECHNOLOGY* $12 million#
Computers, infrastructure (wide/local-area networks),
classroom technology (projectors, cameras, etc.)
DISTRICT-WIDE UPGRADES $13 million#
Roofs; mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning systems; Energy Management System; ADA
improvements; furniture and equipment; band and orchestra uniforms and
instruments; landscaping and drainage projects; general exterior and
interior upgrades
SPECIFIC FACILITY UPGRADES $22 million#
Westlake High School (Library renovation, Performing Arts
facilities renovation/upgrade, additional parking, replacement of older HVAC
systems, renovations of older restrooms/locker rooms)
Hill Country Middle School
(track and field areas, study of
Walsh-Tarlton crosswalk, HVAC replacements, concession area renovation,
exterior speakers and fencing)
West Ridge Middle School
(track and field areas, perimeter
fencing, closed-circuit cabling, intercom and speaker system, concession
area renovation, floor in small gym, carpet and tile as needed)
Barton Creek Elementary
(playground equipment
replacement, resurfaced basketball court, upgraded wastewater lift station,
alternative for student drop-off turn lane, carpet and tile)
Bridge Point Elementary
(fencing, front entrance
redesign, handrails, stage curtain, digital thermostats, exterior stairway,
carpet and tile)
Cedar Creek Elementary
(stage lighting and sound system,
intercom and speaker system, restroom renovation, HVAC systems, alternatives
to bus/car loading areas)
Eanes Elementary (reconfigured driveways and drop-off
areas, safety glass, carpet in Library, reconfigured exterior ramps, stage
curtain, covered walkways)
Forest Trail Elementary
(additional restroom, stage
lighting and curtain, front entry and office redesign, upgraded exterior
ramp access, reconfigured clinic area, partitions in instructional areas)
Valley ViewElementary
(additional restroom, playground
canopy, protective wall covering and sound system in cafeteria, fencing,
water fountains, upgraded fire alarm system)
Other District Facilities
(Central Administration Business
Office reconfiguration; Warehouse roof, flooring and lighting; Buchanan
House renovation)
*to be funded
under five-year payback
While the projects
identified herein represent the District’s current expectations regarding
the use of bond proceeds, the District retains the ability to prioritize
projects, modify the scope and timing of any project, and amend, modify or
replace the proposed projects to meet the needs of the District as
determined by the Board of Trustees.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED PROJECTS-PROPOSITION
II
($5 million)
This proposition includes an Eanes ISD multi-purpose
activity center for use by band, athletics, cheerleaders and dance teams,
physical education, community groups, youth groups, and EISD Community
Education, among others. Design work would proceed if the project is funded,
but preliminary plans are for a metal frame building of approximately 45,000
square feet, with a turf
surface and a fan ventilation
system. The location has yet to be determined, but would be in the vicinity
of Westlake High School.
EANES ISD 2006 BOND FINANCIAL REPORT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2007


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