Houston ISD’s historic $4.4 billion school bond — the largest school bond in Texas history — failed Tuesday, forcing the district to delay much-needed facility improvements due largely to voters’ mistrust of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles.  Approximately 60% of roughly 350,000 voters who cast early, mail-in ballots and Election Day ballots voted against both propositions, according to preliminary returns from the Harris County Clerk’s Office. While thousands of ballots cast on Election Day were still being counted, the margin appears insurmountable. view article

In a third attempt at replacing an aging stadium and building a space for district's swimming team, cumulative Montgomery County vote totals Wednesday morning show that Willis ISD voters rejected its $115.4 million bond package on Tuesday — as the district continues to see growth in enrollment. With a projection of growth to 18,000 from 9,000 students in the next 10 years, the district north of Houston planned the bond election with three propositions that would provide more space to accommodate for the growth. view article

Austin Independent School District Proposition A, a tax rate election, passed with 58 percent of the vote on Nov. 5, resulting in a property tax increase for Austin residents that will invest $41 million in AISD. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted in August to place Proposition A on the November ballot after a five-year stagnation in the state’s per-student funding, which is now $4,000 below the national average. The AISD Board of Trustees put forward Prop A as a plan to increase pay for teachers and staff, reduce the district’s deficit, strengthen savings and invest in additional support staff and services for students. view article

In a third attempt at replacing an aging stadium and building a space for district's swimming team, cumulative Montgomery County vote totals Wednesday morning show that Willis ISD voters rejected its $115.4 million bond package on Tuesday — as the district continues to see growth in enrollment. With a projection of growth to 18,000 from 9,000 students in the next 10 years, the district north of Houston planned the bond election with three propositions that would provide more space to accommodate for the growth. view article

Early election returns show that voters in the East Central Independent School District are likely to reject a handful of bond issues and a tax increase, potentially dashing plans for rapid expansion district leaders say is needed to keep up with population growth. The district’s 11,176 student enrollment is expected to grow to 25,617 by 2033, according to district officials. view article

Local school districts were mostly denied new money from bond issues and tax ratification elections on Tuesday. In the Frisco Independent School District, voters rejected the entire $1 billion bond package that would have included money for new schools, technology improvements, and a tennis center. view article

The largest school bond proposal in Texas history was rejected Tuesday in a big statement by Houston voters. Houston ISD's $4.4 billion bond package, which appeared on ballots as Propositions A and B, failed to gain voter support, according to unofficial election results released by the Harris County Clerk's Office. Nearly 60 percent of early voters opposed Prop A, which sought $3.96 billion for school rebuilds and renovations as well as safety and security upgrades, while Prop B, which sought $440 million for technology systems and infrastructure, was rejected by more than 60 percent of early voters. view article

Unofficial election results for the Frisco ISD bond shows voters oppose all propositions for the district's $1.08 billion bond package. view article

There are several Proposition As on the Central Texas ballot, covering topics from school district budgets, child care affordability and fire and EMS funds. view article

Longview ISD gave consideration to the broader needs of the city when it included a natatorium in its $456.2 million bond proposal in May. Voters approved all five proposals that were part of the bond package, including $41.9 million for a natatorium to replace the district's aging aquatics center that comes with a high price tag for maintenance and repairs. The district has said the repairs cause frequent disruptions in the pool's use. view article

Cameron ISD unveiled its new Career and Technology Center Monday after spending over a year renovating its old high school building. view article

Voters will soon decide on HISD’s controversial $4.4 billion bond proposal. The proposal known as “Renew HISD” is one of the largest bond packages in Texas history. The district says the funds are crucial for upgrades like heating, A/C, security and expanding education programs. view article

Donna ISD held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to celebrate its first outdoor learning center. Located at A.M. Ochoa Elementary, the district said this outdoor learning center starts a series of innovative projects made possible through the successful passage of the $120 million school bond proposal in May 2023. view article

A new North Texas high school football stadium will be named after former Baylor Head Coach Art Briles. Stephenville ISD announced Friday night that its newest stadium will be named Art Briles Stadium honoring the embattled former Baylor coach. Briles was fired by Baylor University in 2016 following his handling of several sexual assault allegations involving football players. view article

Seguin ISD passed a budget this year with a $4 million deficit, and school board leaders are looking to voters for help in increasing the amount of money they receive from the state. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters will be asked to approve a tax rate change, known as a VATRE, an election required by the state to modify the tax rate. view article

On this week’s episode of Big Country Politics, Glen Hill, Superintendent of Paint Creek ISD in Haskell County, spoke about a $3.8 million bond on the November ballot and what it would do for the district. view article

The Seguin ISD is hoping that voters will consider lowering the tax rate, which will ultimately help the district emerge from a financial bind. During Tuesday’s election, the district will be hosting a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). It appears on the ballot as approval of Proposition A. Seguin ISD Chief Financial Officer Liz Oaks says approval of Proposition A will lower the tax rate, but more importantly, it will let the district receive more money from the state. view article

When Tara Watson saw Houston ISD’s $4.4 billion school bond at the end of her ballot, she hesitated.  Watson, a parent of two HISD students, said their campus “obviously” needs new infrastructure, including a anent fix to the school’s persistent heating, ventilation and air conditioning problems. If the bond passed, the district estimates it would invest more than $4.3 million into facility improvements for her children’s highly rated elementary school in the Heights.   Still, after standing there and staring at her voting machine for “a while,” she ultimately opted to vote against the district’s first school bond proposal in 12 years. view article

Houston ISD has placed a $4.4 billion school bond — the largest bond measure in state history — on voters’ ballots this November. We've compiled this page of frequently asked questions about the bond to help inform voters about Propositions A and B as they head to their polling location to vote on the measure. view article

The city of Frisco has finalized a letter of intent with Broadway Across America, securing a promise to collaborate on a proposed multimillion-dollar performing arts center project.    The letter of intent, which is a non-binding document, brings Broadway Across America into a public-private partnership between the city of Frisco and Prosper ISD to build the arts center, according to an Oct. 28 news release.  Broadway Across America also runs Broadway Dallas and would create a similar “Broadway Frisco” series to the center, according to the release  The vision for the Frisco Center of the Arts includes: view article

Voters in the Manor school district will have lower property taxes this year than last, but district officials are asking residents to accept a higher tax rate to help pay off the district’s $20.8 million deficit and give staff members a 2% raise. If voters approve Proposition A, they’d accept a school district property tax rate of $1.0814 per $100 of property valuation in the 2024-25 school year, 3 cents higher than $1.0514 per $100, the rate without the increase, and the district would collect an additional $4.8 million in revenue. view article

Bipartisan opposition is growing against the largest public school bond proposal in state history put before voters in Texas’ largest city this election. The Houston Independent School District has proposed Proposition A and Proposition B on the Nov. 5 ballot, arguing that increasing debt and taxes by nearly $11 billion over 33 years is necessary to build and renovate school buildings, implement security upgrades and make other improvements. view article

While most local officials have refused to take a public position on Houston Independent School District’s $4.4 billion bond, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced her support for it this week. view article

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo threw guarded support behind the facility improvements that are part of Houston ISD's $4.4 billion bond proposal Thursday afternoon, while urging the district's state-appointed leadership to do a better job listening to the community. view article

Some of the classrooms they entered felt warmer than others, because there are ongoing air-conditioning issues at 56-year-old Fleming Middle School. Wendell Robbins and Daria Wenas also visited an auditorium that isn't being used, because the stage lights don't work and the stage itself is damaged and awaiting repairs. view article

The potential partnership would combine the district’s performing arts center project, which was approved by voters in the 2023 bond program, with the city of Frisco’s plans for a performing arts center. The potential partnership was presented during a Prosper ISD board meeting on Oct. 21 and no official plans have been approved. Frisco officials have discussed the project for years. Frisco voters approved a bond item for a performing arts facility in 2015 and a feasibility study from 2018 ended with Frisco City Council members stating they would wait for a private partner before they began developing the center. “It’s an exciting possibility,” Deputy Superintendent Greg Bradley said during the board meeting. “This is a potential awesome opportunity for our kids ... there’s no way that we could construct something like this on our own."   view article

The November 5, 2024 election has no shortage of major races to follow. The whole country knows about Vice President Kamala Harris going up against former President Donald Trump, as well as Senator Ted Cruz fighting to keep his seat against Congressman Colin Allred. But what about everywhere else? view article

Fort Bend ISD is shelving plans for a new elementary school that was supposed to be funded by a $1.2 billion bond voters approved last year. Instead of building the school, the board voted Monday night to use the $47.6 million it would have cost to help close an $80 million budget deficit. view article

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved construction timelines for bond projects during their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 21.  view article

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved construction timelines for bond projects during their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 21.  view article

Liberty Hill ISD is weeks away from opening a new space for special education students ages 18-22. The new facility will help accommodate growing enrollment in the Accessing Community through Career Environments for Student Success, or ACCESS, program, which has more than doubled in recent school years, district officials said at an Oct. 21 board of trustees meeting. The big picture: In November, students in the ACCESS 18-plus program will begin transitioning into a 13,359-square-foot building behind the district’s administration building. LHISD renovated the preexisting space using $5 million in 2023 bond funds. view article

Local residents are urging their neighbors to “Vote No” on ballot propositions being pushed by Rockwall Independent School District that would result in big property tax increases. view article

Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura revealed what percent of the district's staff will get a pay raise if voters approve Proposition A. Under the ballot measure, property taxes would rise $34 a month for the typical Austin ISD homeowner who has an estimated home value of $553,493. The tax increase would not affect homeowners with an over-65 exemption. view article

Fort Bend ISD is shelving plans for a new elementary school that was supposed to be funded by a bond taxpayers voted for. After much discussion, the board ultimately decided that even though building the new school was part of last year's bond, they just don't have the money for it. The new elementary school was supposed to be built in the Harvest Green area of Richmond. view article

A $110,000 check to the Taylor Independent School District from Samsung Austin Semiconductor is the latest incentive from the global company to enhance local high-tech training for future careers. The money will be invested in the school district’s career and technical education program and aid the district in “developing the semiconductor talent pipeline,” according to officials. In other business, trustees also began considering how to boost wireless signal strength across the district. view article