HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and district officials answered dozens of questions about the Houston Schools Bond during a Twitter Town Hall on Tuesday, October 30. Members of the public participated in the conversation, along with students from Davis, Furr, Bellaire, Worthing, Yates, Lamar, Lee, and Sharpstown High Schools. Each of the schools would be rebuilt under the bond proposition.
Nearly 130 questions were submitted during the event and many of them focused on plans to modernize outdated facilities and build new high schools across the city.
Twitter user @Rooluli sent this tweet, “Will all the schools be uniquely designed, or [will there be] a uniform layout for all of them?” Under the proposal, 38 schools would be rebuilt or renovated, and Dr. Grier tweeted that all schools included in the proposition would be designed to meet their communities’ unique needs, [and] historic schools would keep their exteriors.
In response to other questions about the construction and design phase of the proposed project, the superintendent explained that, if the measure is approved, construction would begin shortly after the election, and the goal would be to complete all projects within six to eight years.
Many of the students who participated in the Twitter Town Hall are registered voters, including 18 students from William Jeffery’s class at Davis High School.
“Every question that we put out was answered by the superintendent. It was interactive, and the students were very happy to get more information about the bond,” Jeffery said.
The Houston Schools bond is the last item on the general election ballot.
In addition to addressing the most serious facilities needs, the proposal includes funds for district-wide technology improvements, upgrades to athletic facilities, middle school restroom renovations, and district-wide safety and security improvements.
“This was a great town hall meeting. It was an opportunity to reach out and have a conversation with a lot of our students,” Dr. Grier said. “Hopefully they will go back and talk to their parents, talk to their relatives, to friends, and neighbors, and convince them that this bond is something that deserves serious consideration.”
