February 1, 2003

Port Arthur Independent School District Bond Election

Voters in the Port Arthur Independent School District defeated an $89 million bond election for facilities improvements on Saturday by a margin of 52 percent, 1,970 for the issue and 2,102 against.

"I was very disappointed," said PAISD School Board President Reverend Donald Frank, saying he doesn't know what to do next.  

"Very honestly, we don't have a plan," Frank said.  "Because of the tax rate, because of the condition of the buildings, because of the budgetary problems that we're having, that was the only way that we had that we could fix buildings in our district."

He said the school board will review the results and will likely work toward another bond issue in the future.

"I really thought that we were ready," Frank said, noting problems that include a decades old desegregation order in a district that is 90 percent minority.  "Because we made all the tough decisions, that is really why we fell short.  Hell hath no fury like a voter scorned."

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