Several school districts across the Lone Star State are proposing bond packages for voters to consider on Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. If approved, these bonds would fund a range of projects, including the construction of new campuses, renovations for existing schools, upgrading technology, and implementing better safety precautions. The opportunities will provide subcontractors a chance to contribute to the local community’s development.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD), which is the largest school district in Texas, is among those districts, proposing a historic $4.4 billion bond package, set to be the biggest in its history. Unlike previous bonds, which targeted specific campuses, this proposal will impact every school in the district.
Subcontractors’ Benefits
These bonds, typically approved by voters, provide funding for various school-related projects and play a crucial role in helping subcontractors secure projects while building credibility. Districts like HISD have initiatives that support subcontractor participation, especially for minority-owned, women-owned and small businesses. Bonds allow subcontractors to participate in larger and more lucrative projects.
“Successfully completing bonded projects helps subcontractors build a positive reputation, which oftentimes leads to more work opportunities and trust from contractors and other project owners,” Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. said.
Below are some overall key benefits:
1. Improved School Infrastructure: Bonds allow school districts to finance the construction of new schools, renovations, and upgrades to existing facilities, which provides more work to subcontractors. This can include updated classrooms, better libraries, gymnasiums, and safer school environments.
2. Enhanced Educational Resources: Bonds can be used to improve technology and provide essential learning materials.
3. Long-Term Investment in Education: By funding large-scale projects, bonds help support long-term growth, benefiting future generations of students.
4. Economic Benefits: School construction and renovation projects create jobs and stimulate the local economy by involving contractors, subcontractors, architects, and various suppliers in the community.
5. Increased Property Values: A well-funded school district with modern facilities can increase property values in the surrounding area.
6. Minimized Immediate Tax Impact: Bonds spread the cost of significant school improvements over many years, minimizing the immediate financial burden on taxpayers while ensuring essential school improvements are made.
7. Support for Growing Student Populations: As populations grow, school districts often need new facilities to accommodate increasing numbers of students.
8. Improved Safety and Security: Many bonds focus on enhancing school security, such as upgrading entrances, installing security systems, or making buildings earthquake- or hurricane-resistant.
School district bonds ensure schools have the resources to provide a high-quality education while presenting valuable opportunities to subcontractors—not only in terms of work but also in building relationships and securing contracts in the future.
Purpose of the HISD Bond
The HISD bond is designed to address various critical needs throughout the district. The plan includes improvements to health and safety, expansion of Pre-K programs, construction of three new career centers, technological upgrades, and the renovation or rebuilding of 43 campuses with significant structural needs. One notable feature is that the bond will not require a tax increase, making it a more feasible option for taxpayers.
HISD’s leadership team, composed of experienced administrators and experts, will manage the implementation of the bond. If approved, the district will expand its bond program team to handle the increased scale and complexity of the projects.
To see the proposed investment costs for each campus, visit https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/domain/57036/pdf/Website%20School%20List_updated%206.5.2024.pdf.
Contract Opportunities
The bond will provide a range of contract opportunities across contracting disciplines, including, but not limited to:
Excavation, demolition, foundation, concrete finishers, masons/bricklayers, rough carpenter, finish carpenter, steel/iron, roofers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, drywall, painters, flooring, glaziers, insulation, fire protection, security systems, data and communication, exterior finishers, landscaping, paving, millwork/cabinetmakers, acoustic technicians, and site clean-up.
Estimated project values range from $80,000 to $160,000,000.
If the bond is approved by voters, HISD will provide more information on how subcontractors and companies can apply for these projects in the upcoming months.
Why Every Campus Will Benefit
Unlike previous bonds in 2007 and 2012, which only affected around 90 and 39 campuses, the proposal is designed to invest in every campus. This could range from security upgrades for smaller schools to completely rebuilding HISD’s largest middle school. Investments may include safety improvements, HVAC and control system updates, lead remediation, and Pre-K expansions. The scale of work planned is immense, making cross-departmental collaboration crucial to ensuring smooth project completion.
Next Steps
If approved, HISD will start issuing bonds as needed, beginning in 2025, with work expected to continue through 2031. Each bond issuance will go through a competitive procurement process to secure the best financial terms for the district. HISD officials say the bond oversight committee will monitor the entire process to ensure transparency and the proper use of taxpayer dollars.
There are several other school districts in Texas that have proposed bonds aimed at improving educational facilities. Districts such as Alvin ISD and Waller ISD are seeking voters’ approval for multi-million-dollar proposals.
See a list of the other districts with bond packages Texans can vote on in the November 5th election.
| School District | Bond Amount |
| Allen ISD | $447,000,000 |
| Alvin ISD | $380,100,000 |
| Anderson-Shiro CISD | $60,000,000 |
| Birdville ISD | $48,000,000 |
| Corpus Christi ISD | $135,000,000 |
| East Central ISD | $360,000,000 |
| Frenship ISD | $195,000,000 |
| Frisco ISD | $1,080,000,000 |
| Glasscock County ISD | $40,000,000 |
| Grady ISD | $22,000,000 |
| Highland Park ISD | $137,300,000 |
| Houston ISD | $4,400,000,000 |
| Huckabay ISD | $3,100,000 |
| Jayton-Girard ISD | TBD |
| Quanah ISD | $14,500,000 |
| Rockwall ISD | $848,678,000 |
| Roosevelt ISD | $58,500,000 |
| Rosebud-Lott ISD | $25,000,000 |
| Rotan ISD | $6,500,000 |
| Round Rock ISD | $998,100,000 |
| Sunnyvale ISD | $95,740,000 |
| Tarkington ISD | $80,000,000 |
| Vidor ISD | $98,400,000 |
| Waller ISD | $713,500,000 |
| Willis ISD | $115,400,000 |
