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Bond Losses Further Damage School Funding

By Bill Zeeble, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-993521.mp3

Dallas, TX – The Cedar Hill School District says it will try convincing voters to pass another bond proposal after citizens narrowly rejected package last week. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more on Cedar Hill's dilemma.

Citizens rejected the bond by just sixty-seven votes and also also turned down a tax hike to bolster shrinking operating funds.

The school district's Chief Financial Officer says as a result, future repair and maintenance money must come from the general budget, not bond dollars. Also, Michael McSwain says classes will grow larger than the state-mandated 22:1 student - teacher ratio.

McSwain: We've increased our student/people ratio at the elementary level to 24:1 and done the same at other campuses. From high school on down we've cut forty-six positions. There's never been any scientific evidence that class size affects that but we're about to find out if it does affect academic performance.

McSwain worries Cedar Hill may lose its "recognized" rating. Cedar Hill is not the only district in this predicament. At least eight others statewide lost bond votes. And given severe state budget cuts, almost all are suffering with fewer dollars.

Email Bill Zeeble