Houston voters decide on record-breaking $4.4 billion school district bond proposal

HOUSTON – Houston voters face a historic decision in November when they consider a $4.4 billion bond proposal for the Houston Independent School District.

If approved, it would be the largest bond in Texas history for the state’s largest school district, which serves more than 183,000 students.

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This would be the district’s first bond measure since 2012, when it served over 203,000 students. According to the district, the proposed funds would be divided as follows:

• 2.29 billion US dollars for the reconstruction of campus areas,
• 1.04 billion US dollars for security improvements and
• 1.07 billion US dollars for technology upgrades, preschool expansions and vocational training programs.

The bond proposal has drawn mixed reactions. U.S. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia called a town hall meeting at the Education Committee building to discuss the measure. Garcia was joined by two education leaders who support the bond and two opponents who expressed concerns. Garcia is calling for an independent audit of the bond, citing recent investigations into the Colorado-based charter school network founded by HISD Superintendent Mike Miles that have raised doubts about its integrity.

Ruth Kravetz of Community Voices for Public Education raised concerns about the bond, citing a poll that suggests significant opposition.

“I’m worried that Mike Miles, who gets his hands on $4.4 billion, will take the money and run with it,” Kravetz said.

According to a Z to A Research poll published by Texas AFT, only 39 percent of voters support raising property taxes to finance the bond.

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Texas AFT President Zeph Capo criticized Miles’ leadership and questioned the validity of the proposal.

“Houston voters see through Mike Miles’ fake government, and this new poll proves it,” Capo said. “Trust is broken, and Mike Miles has no right to ask taxpayers for a single cent.”

In contrast, Glen Austin of the Greater Houston Partnership supported retention and emphasized the importance of focusing on student needs.

“There is a simple solution and that is retention. Ultimately, it’s about the students. We always think of the students first,” Austin said.

A recent poll conducted by the Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research showed that Houstonians in the district have strong support for the bond, with more than 75% of respondents favoring a bond that does not result in a tax increase.

HISD District 3 Trustee Dani Hernandez, while critical of the state takeover, supports the bond proposal. She stressed that the district’s aging school buildings and equipment are in dire need of modernization. Since the start of the semester, FOX 26 has received several complaints from parents and teachers about broken air conditioning and sweltering classrooms.

The bond will be split into two propositions. Proposition 1 covers safety improvements, while Proposition 2 addresses technological improvements. Voters will have the option to vote for one, both, or neither of the propositions.