By ELIZABETH CAMPBELL and DIANE SMITH, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Reprint Courtesy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram
October 7, 2007
BENBROOK -- Some Benbrook parents have begun an e-mail campaign in a quest to find out more information about a $593.6 million bond package proposed by the Fort Worth school district.
"I want the Fort Worth ISD to have things readily available for the bond election where the common citizen can obtain this kind of information," said Bobby Spence, who has asked the district a number of questions by e-mail.
Spence and his wife, Symantha, said they want a chance to look at documents that would show a detailed list of the proposed work and how much it will cost.
Voters will decide Nov. 6 whether they want to pay for six new schools, classroom renovations, makeovers of athletic facilities and technology aimed at ushering students and teachers into the digital age. One of the planned new schools is in Benbrook.
The district has been holding town hall meetings to inform the public about the bond referendum. A town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Western Hills High School.
District officials say they're providing as much information as they have available.
"Everything is accessible on the Web site," Deputy School Superintendent Pat Linares said. "Everything is accessible at the schools."
Linares said officials are working to answer questions they have received through e-mail and a bond hot line. However, some questions require more research than others.
"All of the information is here for them," Linares said. "We will provide anything they want."
The e-mail exchange among several Benbrook residents and district officials got the attention of at least one Benbrook city leader.
Benbrook Councilman James Schull sent an e-mail to the school district last week, urging officials to respond to one of his constituents. "The citizens of Benbrook will no longer be ignored on this issue," he wrote.
Tammi Cauthen, president of the First Bank branch in Benbrook, said she grew frustrated when school Finance Director Ron Wilson did not respond to two e-mails asking for guidelines for serving on a bond oversight committee.
She has gotten an answer, but only after Schull intervened, Cauthen said.
Wilson wrote in his e-mail, "Unfortunately, I did not respond back to your e-mail, but I kept the information you submitted and it will be forwarded to the board."
Wilson apologized for the delay and explained that the school board will determine who is on the committee.
Schull said, "It shouldn't take intervention from a councilman to get a response from the school district."
He said he will probably support the bond package, but he wants assurances that Benbrook will get a middle school.
Schull said he wants the school district and Benbrook to work together on such concerns as growth and academic performance.
Cauthen said she has not decided whether she will support the bond because, she said, the information presented at the town meetings has not provided enough detail.
"The slicks they hand out don't say much," Cauthen said.
Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dittrich has told the Star-Telegram that he supports the bond proposal and that Benbrook residents will likely support it.
School district spokeswoman Barbara Griffith said she has been answering questions raised by the Spences as well as other residents.
Griffith said residents can view any bond information they request. That includes a lengthy, two-binder assessment of needs drafted by Magellan K-12, a Houston education consulting company.
Town hall meetings
The Fort Worth school district has been holding a series of town hall meetings on the proposed bond program. Here's a list of the meetings scheduled for this week. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.:
Monday
Western Hills High School
3600 Boston Ave.
Benbrook
Wednesday
Tanglewood Elementary
3060 Overton Park Drive W.
Fort Worth
Thursday
Arlington Heights High School
4501 West Freeway
Fort Worth
For more information
Bond hot line: 817-871-2317
To view a school-by-school needs assessment or obtain a copy, call the district's communications office at 817-871-2455.
E-mail questions:
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Web site: www.fortworthisd.org
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