Voters in North Texas to cast decisions on billions worth of school bonds coming election day
Fresh Take:
Get ready to pour over some big numbers, folks! That's because various North Texas school districts have put up eye-popping bond proposals for this coming weekend's elections. The largest ask comes from Celina ISD, located in Denton and Collin counties. They're seeking a whopping $2.3 billion to build new schools to keep up with a rapidly growing population. With over 800 people moving into the area every month, the district predicts a fourfold increase in students over the next decade!
But it's not just Celina making waves. Melissa ISD, another fast-growing district just north of McKinney, is asking voters to approve a cool $875 million across two proposals. Meanwhile, Argyle ISD is trying to pass a downsized proposal of $88 million less than their original 2024 plan.
DeSoto ISD has three proposals totaling almost $200 million. Ferris ISD is asking for $134.7 million, while Mesquite ISD is seeking $600 million and Terrell's school district is eyeing a bond package worth $273.4 million. So why all this money? To deal with rapid population growth, aging infrastructure, and state-mandated safety requirements.
Bill Zeeble is KERA’s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @bzeeble.
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Now, let's delve deeper into the key district proposals:
- Celina ISD – The district is seeking $2.3 billion, with Proposition A totaling $2.27 billion to fund at least 11 new buildings, renovate others, and add upgrades district-wide. Proposition B, worth $20 million, would fund new and upgraded technology.
- Melissa ISD – Props A and B, worth $875 million, would finance new schools, renovations, transportation, and technology upgrades as their student population doubled over the past 5 years and is projected to increase 67% over the next 10 years.
- Argyle ISD – This district, having failed with a bond package last year, is trying again with a downsized proposal, now worth $403 million instead of the original $491 million.
- DeSoto ISD – Their package includes:
- Proposition A, worth $152.7 million, for campus renovations and a replacement for Frank Moates Elementary.
- Proposition B, for $38.6 million, to fund a new student athletic center and other athletic renovations.
- Proposition C, for $8.5 million, to fund renovations to the high school stadium.
- Ferris ISD – A $134.7 million package is on the table for new schools, renovations, and classroom additions as the growing student population is predicted to outgrow current capacity by 2027.
- Mesquite ISD – Voters are being asked to approve $600 million across two propositions for much-needed security upgrades and facility modernization.
- Terrell – The school district's $273.4 million package would address district-wide safety enhancements, renovations, and additions at seven campuses, the construction of a new elementary school, and the purchase of land for a future new middle school. With most traditional campuses already at or over capacity, the district predicts adding nearly 4,000 new students over the next decade.
- The large sum of $2.3 billion proposed by Celina ISD includes funding for at least 11 new buildings, district-wide upgrades, and new technology, as part of Proposition A and B.
- Melissa ISD's Propositions A and B, amounting to $875 million, aim to finance new schools, renovations, transportation, technology upgrades, and self-development, given the district's rapid growth and increasing student population.
- After a failed bond package last year, Argyle ISD has downsized its proposal to $403 million, hoping to fund educational infrastructure and self-development projects as their student population continues to grow.
- DeSoto ISD's bond package comprises three propositions: Proposition A for campus renovations and a new elementary school, Proposition B for a new student athletic center and athletic renovations, and Proposition C for high school stadium renovations.
- Ferris ISD's $134.7 million proposal includes funding for new schools, renovations, and classroom additions to accommodate the growing student population, which is projected to outgrow the current capacity by 2027.
- In Mesquite ISD, voters are encouraged to approve $600 million for security upgrades and facility modernization to keep up with the demands of the growing district.
- Terrell's school district's $273.4 million package addresses district-wide safety enhancements, renovations, additions at seven campuses, the construction of a new elementary school, and the purchase of land for a future middle school, as the district struggles to accommodate the increasing student population predicted to add nearly 4,000 new students over the next decade.
