Education
BY WESLEY GARDNER
Failure of HISD’s $4.4B bond shows disconnect between community, district
Bonds over time Since 1989, Houston ISD voters have approved ve of the seven proposed bond referendums proposed.
March 1989: HISD voters passed $371M bond to fund construction of 15 new schools November 1998: Voters approved $678M bond to fund construction of 10 new campuses and repair 92 facilities November 2007: Voters approved $805M bond that included construction of 24 new campuses and renovations on 134 facilities
May 1996: Voters rejected $389M bond package that would have built 18 schools and upgraded 84 campuses November 2002: Voters approved $808.6M bond proposal that included construction November 2024: Voters rejected $4.4B bond that would have addressed aging campuses and worn- down heating and cooling systems of several new campuses, new air conditioning systems and learning centers for pre-K students
Houston ISD residents voted down both propositions included in the district’s $4.4 billion bond election Nov. 5, leaving ocials with limited options to address aging campuses and worn- down heating and cooling systems throughout the district. The details Roughly 58% of voters voted against both Proposition A and Proposition B during the Nov. 5 election. Proposition A would have provided $4 billion for school renovations, safety improve- ments and security upgrades, while Proposition B would have provided $400 million for technology improvements. The bond’s failure represented the rst time HISD voters have rejected a bond referendum in nearly 30 years. While proponents of the bond argued the money was needed to address aging infrastructure throughout the district, many voters argued the bond was a referendum on HISD Superintendent Mike Miles and the district’s board of managers, who were appointed by the Texas Education Agency to take over the district in June 2023. Miles expressed disappointment with the results on election night. “The politics of adults beat out the needs of our children,” Miles said in a Nov. 5 letter posted on the district’s Facebook page. Some context In addition to several campus replacements and renovations, the bond would have allocated
$1.35 billion toward health and safety improve- ments that would have aected every district campus. The improvements would have included: • Updated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems • Enhanced security infrastructure • The removal of lead from drinking water A closer look It remains unclear how ocials will address the aging infrastructure and issues with air condition- ing and heating at many of the district’s campuses. Miles said the conditions will continue to be unsuitable for both students and teachers, noting closures at some campuses could be warranted in the future. Additionally, Miles said district ocials will seek out grant funding and resources from the state to help pay for the security improvements that would have been included in the bond. District ocials said it’s too early to determine whether the district will pursue another bond. What they’re saying For months, many HISD community members have concluded their comments at board meetings with the phrase “no trust, no bond.” Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of Houston-based nonprot Community Voices for Public Education, said she believes voters’ rejection of the bond speaks to a broader lack of support for the TEA- appointed superintendent and board of managers. Veronica Garcia, executive director of nonprot
November 2012: Voters approved
$1.89B bond that funded
campus rebuilds, renovations and upgrades at 38 campuses.
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Houstonians for Great Public Schools, said she believes district ocials and community members need to nd a way to work together on infrastruc- ture improvements. “The needs of HISD students cannot be put on hold,” Garcia said. “We can’t aord to wait.”
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