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Southwest ISD Seeking $165 Million Bond From Voters

Southwest Independent School District

Southwest ISD graduated just under 600 students in 2010, but this year the district has grown by 600 students.

"We normally, for the first ten years, saw between 2.75 percent to about 4 percent," said SWISD Superintendent Dr. Lloyd Verstuyft, but he also said enrollment has spiked over the last couple of years, increasing to six percent over time.

"A lot of that's driven because there's a lot more businesses coming out here," said Verstuyft. "Schlumberger has come into our area, of course, we have Toyota. We are located along the I-35 corridor. The Eagle Ford Shale that's happening down south. There are a lot of businesses opening up in our zip codes."

Verstuyft said the bond will fund a new 2,500 student high school, a fourth middle school, improve infrastructure, transportation, and technology, and modernize some of the older buildings. Located in South Bexar County, Southwest is a recognized district with two exemplary schools and seven recognized schools. It serves a population that has historically been economically disadvantaged.

Dr. Verstuyft was one of four area superintendents participating in the Greater Chamber's education summit.

Eileen Pace is a veteran radio and print journalist with a long history of investigative and feature reporting in San Antonio and Houston, earning more than 50 awards for investigative reporting, documentaries, long-form series, features, sports stories, outstanding anchoring and best use of sound.