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From KaufmanCountyOnline.com Archive The news was good Tuesday night – voters approved the $50 million Crandall school bond proposal 782 to 576 with what could be the largest turnout ever. But some school officials still were a little disappointed. “It’s not what I wanted but we’ll take it,” Superintendent Larry Watson said. He had hoped for a greater margin of victory. School board president Ted York and Robyn Foster, who chaired the facilities committee that recommended the bond proposal, also said they were pleased the bonds passed but had hoped for more positive votes. “The kids win,” Mr. York said. The election was hard fought but that brought out would is likely the largest voter turnout ever, Mr. York said. “I’ve been on the school board 17 years and that’s the biggest I’ve seen,” he said. Without the bonds, students would have been in portables by next school year, he said. Instead, money will be spent to renovate the Raynes Education Center, the district’s oldest building, to house one grade until the new elementary school can be built and opened in 2009. About $20 million in bonds will be sold almost immediately. Most of the money will pay for a new school in the Heartland development, the fastest growing part of the district. About $30 million will be held in reserve for future schools. It was that $30 million that bothered many opponents. They were concerned about approving the money without having it tied to specific projects. Some of those in the eastern part of the district also were unsure about building a school in Heartland, on the district’s western side. Much of the district’s growth is coming from the new homes being built in Heartland and the area’s developer has donated several sites for schools. “These are our kids and we have to educate them,” Mr. York said. “We want to educate them,” Mrs. Foster added. Final results November 6, 2007
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