FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 19, 2018
Contact: Erica Pangburn, Director of Community Engagement 325-677-7241
Abilene Chamber Board Endorses AISD Bond
Abilene, TX, September 19, 2018 – The Abilene Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met Wednesday morning, Sept. 19 to consider support and endorsement of the $138 million bond on the Nov. 6 ballot for capital improvements and programming expansion of the Abilene Independent School District (AISD).
Chamber CEO, Doug Peters, believes that the broad community support of this bond election has the potential to serve as a catalytic opportunity for all of our region. “I believe that this is the single most important investment our community can make in itself, particularly as we consider workforce shortage in the context of our area’s economic development strategy,” Peters said. “Our ability to attract newcomers, from line-workers to physicians, is often tied directly to the first impression made by those considering Abilene,” Peters added. “With the growing importance of vocational training and dual-credit education for our children, we commend the AISD Trustees for their carefully-developed solution to this ongoing, and in many cases growing, challenge for all communities as we seek to replace exiting baby boomers in the workplace.”
Planned renovations include the following:
– Replacement of three elementary schools: Austin/ Dyess/ Taylor totaling $69,103,000
– New career and technical educational center/ ATEMS totaling $36,612,000
– Athletic & Fine Arts program expansions and renovations totaling $22,964,000
– Upgrade and replacement of mechanical systems totaling $10,000,000
Mitch Barnett, Chairman of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee said, “I’m pleased that the Abilene Chamber of Commerce voted this morning to endorse and fully support the Abilene Independent School District’s upcoming bond election in November. Many of our facilities are substantially behind those of our peer cities and it’s time for reinvestment in our kids. I’m also appreciative that the bond includes a new career tech high school, which will provide vocational training for a large percentage of our students who enter the workforce straight out of high school.”
The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse and support AISD in this endeavor.
For more information contact the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. erica@abilenechamber.com
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