by ShaVonne Herndon
LONGVIEW (KYTX) - Some Pine Tree parents are speaking out against the $20 million bond proposal. CBS 19's ShaVonne Herndon reports on the items parents favor and what particular item is causing an uproar.
"When we moved back to Longview there was no question on what school we were coming to. It was Pine Tree."
Pine Tree ISD parent Larry Meadows is deeply committed to the schools, but not what the district is asking taxpayers to support.
"Improvements on the dressing room for the tennis courts, the culinary arts programs..."
The added career tech classes and education classroom upgrades he says are fine.
"If you start in October, then that's football season."
But, it's the $16 million football stadium that he says - isn't.
"Looking at this stadium, $16 million dollars, we're just not a district that needs to have a stadium like that," said Gregg Hulett.
Pine Tree ISD says a recent report shows the football stadium has safety issues that need to be addressed.
"If you look through here and look at his recommendations there are only two things he identified as safety issues."
Gregg Hulett has analyzed that same report. He adds stand fixtures and height adjustments don't require a new stadium.
"We just want to make sure that we are getting the most bang for our bucks. It's very trying times, no one wants to pay anymore tax than they have to."
"That six and a half cent increase in taxes is not what these parents want to see."
"There are improvements needed. I just think we need to plan it a little better," said Larry.
Both parents are hoping to go before the Pine Tree ISD school board on April 12th. They want more thought put into the process, and the bond to be moved to the November elections.
