Comal ISD puts $567M bond on November ballot

In November, Comal ISD voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the district’s $567 million bond, which would support safety, security and infrastructure projects, officials said.

The overview

One of the largest components of the proposed bond is allocated to address this anticipated growth.

CISD Board President Courtney Biasatti said schools are seeing increased enrollment across the district as the county continues to grow.

Enrollment has increased by about 10,000 students over the past decade, and the district projects that 7,000 more will be added by 2032, according to the CISD Bond 2026 website.

CISD Superintendent John Chapman III said the bond will address immediate needs and anticipated future growth, without increasing the district’s tax rate.

“It’s a community-driven plan that improves the safety and security of our schools, while also helping to maintain the investments that the community has already made across the district,” Chapman said.

The bond is made up of two propositions—Proposition A and Proposition B. Prop. A, which accounts for $539.95 million, will fund projects for facilities, safety, buses, land and projected growth. Prop. B, which accounts for $27.04 million, will fund technology for students and teachers.

The breakdown

The bond would allocate funds for new career and technical education, or CTE, and academic additions at Pieper High School, Davenport High School and Canyon Middle School. The additions would help make space for growth throughout the district, according to district officials.

The bond would also fund two elementary schools and land.

Safety and security upgrades would include video surveillance, card-reader access controls and secure entryways, Chief Information Officer Scott Monroe said.

“These systems are part of a broader approach to school safety that also includes trained staff, strong relationships between students and trusted adults, established safety procedures and close coordination with law enforcement, first responders and other public-safety partners,” Monroe said.

Looking back 

Both propositions can be financed through the district's current tax rate of $1.0748 per $100 of taxable value, according to the district’s website. The 2026-27 tax rate was approved at a board meeting on Sept. 17.

The tax rate will remain at a 30-year low, according to district officials and historical tax rate data. It has remained at $1.0748 for the past two fiscal years. When two of three propositions were approved for a bond in 2023, the district tax rate was $1.0892.

How it happened 

Projects in the bond were determined by a 61-member committee named Comal Forward. Comal Forward is composed of parents, community members, staff and students that was formed in October 2025.

District leaders conducted assessments of current district facilities and architects began drafting ideas of how to improve district buildings. The committee held seven monthly meetings leading up to the bond presentation to the board, and now meets on an as-needed basis, according to the committee’s website.

What they’re saying

Mary Meffert, a member of Comal Forward, said they considered numerous factors, including demographics, growth and enrollment patterns, district finances, and status updates on existing infrastructure, when considering the bond.

“We definitely recognized the need to address both the immediate needs and the anticipated enrollment growth, and you see that philosophy reflected in the final bond package,” Meffert said.

Several trustees spoke about the proposed bond in response to a presentation about the 2023 bond at a Sept. 17 board meeting.

Trustee Garner said he appreciates how the district has communicated with families and the community about the 2023 bond. He said he believes that district staff will carry that transparency forward into the 2026 bond.

“We are asking the community for a significant commitment this fall to pass yet another bond,” he said. “We are asking the community to invest in us, and so, in order to do all that, we have to be transparent about what we've done with our facilities and planning and budget.”

Trustee Amy Shaw said she is happy to see innovation in projects related to both the 2023 bond and the proposed bond.

“We have people who care about our kids and our teachers and the experiences that they have at these buildings,” Shaw said. “It’s just palpable.”

Trustee Amanda Jones said the results from the 2023 bond show that the district has what it takes to carry out the plans for the 2026 bond if passed.

As of press time, no residents have spoken in opposition to the bond at the board meetings.

What’s next

Early voting begins Oct. 19 and goes through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3 and polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To check your voter registration, visit www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration.