Published: May 09, 2009 12:39 am      

Palestine, Elkhart ISDs await voters’ say on bond issues

Election Day is today throughout the state as voters will be deciding city and school board races, in addition to a number of other key issues. 

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today throughout the state. 

In Anderson County, Palestine and Elkhart school district voters will be voting on a pair of bonds designed to improve those districts’ facilities. 

Palestine Independent School District voters are considering a $64 million bond election which calls for improvements to all campuses, with roughly half of that total designated for a massive overhaul of Palestine High School. 

PISD officials say the average homeowner in their district would see their school taxes increase by $16.48 a month if the bond passes. 

There is also a single contested school board race in the PISD as incumbent Wade Hobbs faces former PISD Superintendent Jerry Mayo who retired from the district last year. 

In the Elkhart Independent School District, voters will decide a $16 million bond election which calls for the construction of a new high school on U.S. 287. Existing district funds would pay $3 million of the project’s total $19 million cost if approved by voters. 

Elkhart also has a pair of contested school board races. 

Michael Hampton and Gary McShan are vying for Position 6 on the EISD board, while Position 7 features a three-way race between Dale Crane, Charles R. McShan and Randy Smith.

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PISD Polling Locations

Masonic Hall, 900 Giraud, Palestine -- Box 6 (all), Box 8 (all) and Box 13 (if voter resides in City District 2)

Montalba Community Center, 10802 Texas 19 North, Montalba -- Box 11 (all), Box 22 (all) and Box 23 (all)

Palestine High School, 1600 S. Loop 256, Palestine -- Box 1 (if voter resides in City District 6) and Box 13 (if voter resides in City District 6)

Sam Houston Building, 1000 E. Lamar Street, Palestine -- Box 1 (if voter resides in City District 5), Box 3 (all), Box 13 (if voter resides in City District 5), Box 14 (all), Box 15 (all), Box 16 (all) and Box 17 (all)

Senior Citizens Building, 125 Kickapoo, Palestine -- Box 7 (if voter resides in City District 1) and Box 20 (all)

Washington Building, 1020 W. Hamlett, Palestine -- Box 7 (if voter resides in City District 3), Box 9 (all), Box 10 (all), Box 19 (all) and Box 21 (all)

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com