The overview
HISD board managers voted 9-0 in favor of placing the bond on the ballot during the board’s Aug. 8 meeting. The bond will largely focus on upgrading and improving more than 270 campuses throughout the district.
Voters will consider two separate bond propositions during the Nov. 5 election, including:
- Proposition A, which includes $3.96 billion aimed at addressing aging infrastructure
- Proposition B, which includes $440 million for technology infrastructure and upgrades
While most of the more than 80 individuals who spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting voiced their opposition to the bond, the Aug. 8 meeting also saw more community members speak in favor of the bond than any of the district’s previous meetings since officials announced the proposal.
At board meetings over the summer, those opposed to the bond turned out to express concerns about various elements, including the co-location of schools and a lack of trust in board managers, appointed by the TEA last June.
A closer look
HISD’s most recent bond—approved in 2012—was a $1.9 billion package backed by roughly two-thirds of voters.
While the bulk of the work included in the 2012 bond was focused on high schools, district officials said the 2024 bond places more emphasis on elementary and middle school improvements.
According to district's website, the bond would allocate:
- $1.35 billion toward campus safety and health initiatives
- $1 billion toward early childhood education expansion and career and technical education improvements
- $2.05 billion toward campus expansions, renovations and rebuilds
- 15 full campus rebuilds
- 7 partial campus renovations
- 4 partial campus renovations with expansions
- 1 co-location serving 2 elementary schools and 1 middle school
- 3 co-location rebuilds, combining 3 elementary schools and 3 middle schools
What they’re saying
Six of the district’s nine elected trustees were on hand to speak during the public comments portion of the Aug. 8 meeting. Of those six, four spoke in favor of the bond. HISD's elected trustees have been relegated to serving in an advisory capacity since the Texas Education Agency appointed Miles and the board of managers to oversee the district last year.
District V Trustee Sue Deigaard, whose district includes portions of the Bellaire-Meyerland-West University area, said the bond was necessary to address the district’s aging infrastructure.
“We should have put a bond on the ballot six years ago,” Deigaard said. “We didn’t, and students have suffered because of our inaction. Please put the students first. Put the bond on the ballot and let the voters decide.”
District IX Trustee Myrna Guidry, whose district covers the Westbury area as well as large swaths of south and southwest Houston, voiced concern over the bond proposal and questioned the district’s assertion that it would not lead to any tax increases.
“I don’t trust that the identified campuses will be fulfilled, because there are no checks and balances,” Guidry said. “I also have concerns about [the claim that the bond will not result in a tax increase]. Let’s be real. There will be a tax increase. How do you get $4 billion and not increase taxes?”
Board manager Rolando Martinez was the only board member to comment on the bond before the vote.
“There is a need for new building in our school district,” Martinez said. “It’s been more than 12 years since our last bond—27 [years since a bond was approved] for our middle and elementary schools. We need this bond.”
What's next
With less than three months before the Nov. 5 election, officials provided the following timeline for how they will proceed:
- August: Managers will consider approving a project management consultant to oversee the scope and sequence of the bond.
- September: District officials will release preliminary project plans and a timeline.
- October: District officials will name members of a bond oversight committee, and release a final project plan and timeline.
- Nov. 5: Voters will consider approving the district’s bond proposal on Election Day
