The Houston Independent School District Board of Managers is set to vote Thursday on whether to put the district’s $4.4 billion bond proposal on the ballot in November in what would be the largest school bond election in state history.
The bond would allocate about $2 billion for rebuilding and renovating schools, and $1.35 billion for lead abatement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements and security upgrades. It would also provide $1 billion to expand pre-K, build three new career and technical education centers and upgrade technology without raising taxes.
The election order would place the bond on the ballot on Nov. 5, which is Election Day, and authorize state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles or a designee to negotiate, execute, and amend contracts and agreements to carry out the election process.
“Replacement, renovation and modernization of numerous HISD schools is needed, and a new bond will provide the necessary funding,” the district wrote in the agenda item.
The proposal would be split up on the ballot into Propositions A and B, according to the meeting agenda. Proposition A would allocate $3.96 billion for school building renovations and expansions, including safety and security infrastructure, while Proposition B would allocate $440,000 for technology equipment, systems and infrastructure.
Eligible voters will be able to cast separate votes on each proposition, as Texas state law requires school districts to put the “acquisition or update of technology equipment” as a separate proposition on the ballot when issuing a bond election.
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