Construction companies, Cove ISD leaders donate to PAC supporting $175M school bond

COPPERAS COVE — Donors to the political action committee supporting a “yes” vote in the upcoming $175 million bond election in Copperas Cove have been revealed.

According to public finance reports from the Texas Ethics Commission, the pro-bond political action committee (PAC) is funded by several notable donors, with the largest contributors being contractors located outside Copperas Cove.

The first notable large donation from a contractor was a $5,000 gift by RBDR, PLLC in Waco on April 4. According to its website, RBDR is a “full service architecture firm with projects including awe-inspiring educational developments.”

The $175 million bond issue, which is on the May 4 ballot in Copperas Cove, aims to make major renovations to Copperas Cove High and other improvements throughout the district.

The CCISD Students First PAC is being run by a Copperas Cove school board member.

Three $5,000 donations were made on April 11, according to the report. The donations were from contractors Honey’s Roofing in Hewitt, RaBroker Air Conditioning in Waco, and A&H Drywall in Waco. According to their websites, Hewiit Roofing “specializes in commercial roofing projects throughout Texas,” and RaBroker “offers residential and commercial sales and service of air conditioning and heating systems.” A&H’s Facebook page states that it is a “commercial subcontractor that specializes in metal framing, drywall, and acoustical ceilings.”

Another notable donation was a $4,0000 gift by Cove Meadows Management Corporation, which shares a mailing address with the Copperas Cove Housing Authority. CCISD School Board Vice President Inez Faison, who is the PAC’s treasurer, serves as Executive Director of the housing authority, a government agency that uses federal money to help people with rental assistance.

A couple of donations were made by prominent Cove people. CCISD Superintendant Joe Burns gifted $1,000 to the PAC and long-time board member and Board President Joan Manning donated $500, according to the finance report.

The Herald reached out to Burns with questions regarding the importance of the PAC to obtain a “yes” vote Friday, and if there were any conflict of interest or ethical issues with him donating to the PAC. Cove ISD Director of Communications and Public Information Officer Kurtis Quillin replied to the Herald with a statement: “At this time, the district has no comment.”

According to the documents, the PAC has collected $26,900 in political contributions and at the time of finance report filing on April 25, it has spent only $9,425 of the contributions.

The finance report also documents political expenditures, with the largest belonging to Chism Strategies and Thomas Graphics for $3,398 and $1,302, respectively, in advertising expenses. The PAC’s other large expense was $1,741 to CWJ Strategies for consulting.

Same Address

CCISD Students First came under scrutiny last week when pro-bond mailers were spotted with Copperas Cove Housing Authority’s return address on them.

While Burns, Faison and Manning appear to be using their personal money or time promoting a “yes” vote, Texas Election Code prohibits school district funds from being used in a such a way.

“No matter how enthusiastic you are about an election, it is important to remember that the Texas Election Code prohibits the use of school district resources to produce or distribute political advertising in connection with an election,” according to the Texas Ethics Commission’s website. “An officer or employee of a political subdivision may not spend or authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising.”

Copperas Cove school board unanimously approved the bond proposal in February, setting it up to be on the May 4 ballot.

The bond aims to make renovations to all school campuses, including creating dedicated hallways and classrooms to each grade level: a ninth-grade “wing,” a 10th-grade “wing,” an 11th-grade “wing” and a 12th-grade “wing.”

Should the bond pass, the softball field and tennis courts would be relocated and reconstructed. The baseball field would receive turf instead of natural grass, and a shaded cover would be placed near where the football team currently practices, which would allow athletic teams to practice in the shade.

The high school renovations would include a 1,000-student outdoor, covered, seating area for eating lunch and a new indoor cafeteria with 10 serving lines and a 1,000-student capacity. That would be new construction that would be generally off of where the current offices are.

Also, the front entrance to the school would shift to Avenue D.

While upgrades at the high school are the bulk of the $175 million bond, they are not the only proposed projects in the bond.

The bond would also call to enclose the outdoor walkways at the combined campuses of Clements/Parsons Elementary, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary and Williams/Ledger Elementary. It would fully renovate the Miss Jewell side of Fairview/Miss Jewell.

It would also add restrooms in the cafeteria at Copperas Cove Junior High School.

The bond would also pay for security upgrades at all campuses, including the high school.

Some opponents of the bond have called to build a new high school instead of making renovations, but Burns said a new school would be much more expensive. “You can’t buy what you can’t afford,” he told the Herald in a previous interview.

Early voting in the election concludes Tuesday, with election day on Saturday.