Flo residents examine Oakwood bond issue

Oakwood ISD Superintendent fields questions about upcoming bond election. Sherry’s Shots In an emotionally charged meeting at the Lone Star Community Center, citizens and tax payers listened to Oakwood Superintendent Richard Scoggin explain the need for a new elementary school in Oakwood. The proposed school will be financed by a bond which will be on the November 3rd ballot. The bond will raise school taxes in the Oakwood School District by an estimated .18 to .19 per $100 property value.

Few argued that another facility is needed, but several complained that other options were not considered. There was also criticisms that residents from the Flo Community were not invited to be on the committee which brought the proposal before the Oakwood School Board. Someone mentioned the fact that no one from the Flo Community is on the Oakwood School Board, thereby cutting the Flo Community out of important decisions.

Scoggin’s response was that the Board is elected by residence in the school district and that some individuals had been approached to serve on the committee but had declined. He did not share the names of those who were asked to serve saying “I do not want to embarrass anyone who didn’t want to be on the committee.”

Another concern is the perception that very few students from the “Old Lone Star School District” attend school in Oakwood. Several people were in attendance that have children or grandchildren who go to Buffalo. A few students transfer to Centerville from the Flo area.

Scoggin did not know how many students from Flo attend Oakwood but said there are about 22 students on the school bus which heads in the Flo direction. It was not made clear how many actually live in the Flo Community.

Without doubt the primary concern was the increase in school taxes. Several individuals said they were on fixed incomes and could not afford another tax increase. One person said her mother-in-law is on a fixed income and takes numerous medicines which cost several hundred dollars each month; if taxes increase the estimated $150.00 her mother-in-law would not be able to purchase her prescriptions on the month she pays her taxes.

Scoggin explained that seniors who have filed a homestead exemption and have frozen taxes would not be affected; however he could not speak to increases in property evaluation due to improvements.

There were several complaints about the Oakwood tax rate as compared to others in the area. The following information was obtained from the various school districts:

Buffalo - $1.28657; Oakwood (current) – $1.04 (proposed) $1.23; Centerville - $1.04; Leon - $1.00519.

As the meeting progressed the topic repeatedly digressed to the past and how the school in the Flo Community was closed and the Lone Star District was dissolved into the Oakwood School District. In an effort to get back on track Margo Carmichael implored “We promised Mr. Scoggin that we would keep to the facts and talk about the bond, let’s not talk about the past.”

In wrapping up the meeting, Scoggin said “I invite any of you to come by the school and look around. Determine for yourself if there is a need for a new building”. He closed by saying “Thank you for listening to me tonight. I’m leaving here not mad at anybody and I hope no one is mad at me. If you are going to vote you need to be educated on what the election is about.”