The Riviera Independent School District’s upcoming $18.5 million bond election in May will go forward as scheduled despite pleas to rescind the election from a standing-room-only audience at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Riviera ISD board of trustees.

Residents who live within the district’s boundaries had many questions, which has prompted the district to begin holding public meetings to better clarify information.

At the meeting Wednesday, the district administration announced meetings for the following three weeks in order to clear up any confusion the public may have.

After the presentations there will be an open forum for a question and answer session. Through special meetings and regular school board meetings various presentations have been made by officials working with the bond issue, which at times have created conflicting reports.

At a special meeting held Feb. 10, Steve Elliot with Southwest Securities, RISD’s financial advisor, mentioned that the school board could choose to rescind the election at any time, however, at the regular school board meeting held Wednesday, Victor Quiroga, Senior VP with Southwest Securities, mentioned that to the best of his knowledge once the election was announced on Jan. 13 it could not be rescinded, much to the surprise of the audience.

“After speaking with legal authorities Thursday, it was discovered that Quiroga was correct and the election must be held on May 8,” Dana Hickey, RISD Business Manager said. “The school board cannot rescind the election at any time as previously announced.”

Several citizens at the regular meeting Wednesday asked the school board during a public forum to reevaluate the financial factors and rescind the election.

“Please revisit and reconsider this bond election, it will create a financial burden and hardship and I ask you to consider all the factors,” resident Bob Cole said.

“I am all for better education, but an unexpected expense such as this and an additional tax payment could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many of our families. We have presented a letter with 10 pages of signatures expressing our reasons why we are against this issue to the board; have you given that any consideration?” Cole asked the board.

Cole then asked for a hand vote of everyone in the room who was against the bond election and 75 percent of hands were raised.

“We are asking you to take into consideration that this is not the time or place for this issue — we simply cannot afford it,” Cole said.

Therese Crocker said the district administration and school board needed transparency in their actions and asked the board to focus on what needs to be done in education first.

“I believe that Mr. Havner (RISD Superintendent) is using improper tactics to promote his agenda. He will not even be here in 30 years paying this tax, because he is not even a taxpaying member of this community and does not own property,” Crocker said. “It is to my understanding that $300,000 was spent on a new track when that money should be going to education.”

Crocker told the board that they have been misled and pleaded with them to do what the community asked of them.

The process for this proposed bond election began when the RISD Board of Trustees and school administration reviewed and interviewed four different architectural firms, two finance companies, and two project managers over the last 14 months, at no cost to the district, to determine future facility needs.

As a result of discussions, campus walk-throughs, and review of the facility survey, the administration unanimously made a decision to recommend to the RISD School Board a bond election for new construction to address current facility conditions.

The school board met on Jan. 13 and after hearing from the administration, and reviewing survey information, called for a May 8 school bond election.

In the past, RISD spent $704,222 in 2006, $723,649 in 2007, and $1,243,003 in 2008 from the Operations and Maintenance Budget for repairs and improvements, including salaries, although they are only budgeted to spend $433,017 each year.

In information released from RISD, the school administration said, “The cost for repairs and improvements continue to rise and the district is unable to meet the demands of these increased costs.”

“In our 14 month investigation, we have learned that it will cost an estimated $11,000,000 to $12,000,000 to renovate our present facilities, while not addressing all of the issues that we are experiencing. New construction is estimated at $18,500,000 and this would also repair the roofs on several of the buildings that the district will continue to use.”

The presentations on the bond issue will be held at the RISD cafeteria Feb. 23, March 6, and March 9 at 6 p.m., Hickey said.

The public is encouraged to attend.