Voters to decide fate of $175 million Copperas Cove ISD bond in May election

COPPERAS COVE, Texas (KWTX) - More than a dozen area school districts have bonds that will be decided by voters in the upcoming May election.

That includes La Vega, Conally, Lorena, McGregor, Axtell, Lorena, Rosebud-Lott, Cranfills Gap, Comanche, Penelope, Bynum, Aquilla, Milford and Copperas Cove. These multi-million dollar bonds are all meant to renovate existing facilities and build new ones.

Most of Copperas Cove ISD’s bond would go fund the expansion of Copperas Cove High School and other renovations at the school.

If the bond is approved by voters, it would raise property taxes by about $28 per month on an average home valued at $200,000. Homeowners aged 65 and older who have filed the Over 65 exemption will not see an increase. Veterans who have a 100% disability rating and widows of soldiers killed in the line of duty won’t see a tax increase either.

Right now, at Copperas Cover High School, crowded hallways are all too familiar for senior Daniel Smith.

”It’s a pretty packed school and as I’ve become a senior I’ve definitely noticed that there’s a lot more kids here now,” Smith said.

The Copperas Cove ISD bond will fund renovations so the hallways aren’t so jam packed.

”It would allow us to compartmentalize and have a designated freshman, sophomore, junior and senior area to reduce the number of students going across the building,” Copperas Cove High School principal Dr. Jimmy Shuck said.

Under the bond, 55 classrooms would be added so every teacher can have their own classroom.

“We currently have 30 teachers that have to travel,” Dr. Shuck said. “When they get to class they have to take everything off their cart to get set up and get logged into the computer. It does take some time for them to be ready to be set up for the next class.”

More classrooms mean more space for tutoring students like sophomore Jacquel X.

”I’ll be able to have like 1 on 1s with a teacher if I don’t understand a subject,” X said.

The cafeteria, which seats about 600 students, would also be expanded to give students more space to spread out.

“The cafeteria would be able to seat about 1,000 students inside and we would also be able to seat that many students in an outdoor seating area as well,” Dr. Shuck said.

Students agree that all of these changes will not only address the overcrowding, but also create a better overall environment.

”I’m super excited for the bond,” Smith said. “I have a brother who’s a freshman and I really hope the bond will make his high school career better.”

Early voting starts on Monday. Remember to bring a valid Texas ID if you plan on heading to the polls. This includes the following forms of identification:

• Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States Passport (book or card)

Polling location hours vary from county to county so make sure to check your local election office’s website for that information.

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