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Letters to the Editor
Vote against Proposition 2 in the EISD bond election
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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Dear Editor:
I am president of the River Hills Neighborhood Association. I am writing concerning the upcoming Eanes ISD bond election, specifically, the inclusion of a new elementary school on River Hills Road in Proposition 2.
Others have discussed the fiscal wisdom of constructing a new elementary school when student enrollment is declining. I want to focus on the safety issues and environmental suitability of the site.
River Hills is a narrow, hilly and winding two-lane road characterized by very limited sight distances. There are at least four sharp turns in the road where a school bus cannot stay in its lane.
In addition, the intersection of River Hills and RM 2244 occurs at a saddle point in 2244, creating a sight distance issue on 2244 that would, if the intersection were signalized due to additional school traffic, lead to increased accidents on that already dangerous road.
From an environmental perspective, the main issue is how the wastewater generated by a school will be safely treated and discharged. The nearest wastewater collection and treatment facilities are the Barton Creek MUD’s. To properly dispose of the wastewater, it must be lifted via force main to RM 2244 and conveyed by a gravity line to the MUD’s treatment facility. I suspect that the capital and operating costs associated with such a project will be quite considerable, and I have not seen any credible estimates of these costs, which, of course must be borne by the district. Any attempt to provide on-site wastewater treatment would face considerable constraints from the thin clay soils, shallow bedrock and steep slopes. A failing on-site system would discharge raw sewage into the nearby creek which drains immediately into Lake Austin, directly across from Emma Long Park.
For these and other reasons, we have serious concerns about the school site on River Hills. I urge voters to vote no on Proposition 2, allowing the district time to undertake the technical studies required to properly analyze this and other sites and choose a better location when and if enrollment growth merits an additional elementary school.
Josh Farley
River Hills Neighborhood Association president
Another elementary school is not needed. Enrollment is declining. As taxpayers, we should not pay additional tax dollars to build an un-needed school that is more “convenient” for a few parents. These parents knew there was no elementary school in the immediate neighborhood when they moved to Cuernavaca. Their desire for a school closer to them is selfish and financially unfeasible. The District will have higher operating costs to run the school, and they are already running a deficit budget. Although I sympathize with the Cuernavaca’s parents desire for a school closer to them, we need to put personal politics aside and do what is best for the District and vote No on Prop 2.
Another issue is that in order to make the numbers work, a River Hills Elementary will need to be substantially populated by out-of-district transfer students, whose parents will have to drive them in and out every day on Bee Caves Road, impacting traffic from River Hills to Mopac.
Isn’t this what school buses are for?
School buses are for district students. Out of district transfers would not be entitled to bus service. They would have to be driven by their parents. “Facts” is pointing out that a school that by definition will hold a big population of out of district transfers will add traffic to Bee Caves.
And most in-district students are driven to school by their parents. They don’t take the bus.
River Hills Road was closed most of this week due to flooding. There is a low water crossing on the street that would cost millions to improve. I personally was stuck behind a school bus that ventured too close to the crossing and had to be removed by a country truck. This is not a game, folks. We are putting our children’s lives at stake by forcing a school in an unsafe/inappropriate location. Why would we spend millions to improve this site when we don’t need a school right now, and there are better locations when we do? Please put aside the personal politics and let’s all use some common sense.