By Edmond Ortiz
Voters living in three San Antonio-area school districts will mull a combined $2 billion-plus in bond proposals as they cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 elections.
What you should know
Comal Independent School District is floating a two-proposition, $567 million bond package.
- Proposition A would direct $539 million to increase classroom capacity by building two new elementary schools along Interstate 35 near New Braunfels, expanding Canyon High School with the conversion of an adjacent administrative and support services structure for instructional space, and enhancing classroom spaces at Davenport High School.
- Prop A would also cover purchases of land for future schools and expansions at existing campuses, and districtwide upgrades to security, safety, and existing school infrastructure, such as heating, cooling and electrical systems and roofing, and the replacement of older school buses with newer ones with seatbelts.
- Proposition B would direct $27 million to replace or upgrade classroom technology devices.
Comal ISD officials said there is enough bonding capacity in the debt service, or interest and sinking (I&S) portion of the district’s property tax rate to support approved bond projects. This means an approved bond package would not affect CISD’s current tax rate, which is at a 30-year low.
Northside Independent School District is floating a $886 million multi-proposition bond package.
- Proposition B would direct $764.7 million for a wide variety of physical facility projects districtwide. Many of these proposed projects would involve reconstruction, renovations and upgrades, such as a $125 million replacement of the Taft High School fine arts building, $45 million each to replace the cafeteria, gymnasiums and kitchens at Oak Hills and Scobee elementary schools, and a $44 million fine arts complex replacement at Rudder Middle School.
- Proposition B would cover other physical structural projects, including school building and athletic surface infrastructure, waterproofing, new roofing, new security and safety features, and technology infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, Prop B would have $43.7 million to buy 230 new school buses.
- Proposition C would direct $56 million to replace classroom instructional technological devices.
- Proposition D would direct $65.5 million to replace the George Block Aquatics Center.
Northside ISD officials said passage of any of the bond proposals would not impact district property taxes because the district has enough capacity in the debt service, or interest and sinking (I&S), portion of its property tax rate to support new bond projects.
Northside ISD’s bond ballot items, listed as Props B, C and D, are different from the district’s Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE), where voters are asked to raise the maintenance and operations (M&O) segment of NISD’s property tax rate 3 cents in order to fund staff pay raises, and a reduction of the district’s budget deficit. The NISD property tax measure is called Proposition A on the local ballot.
San Antonio Independent School District is floating a multi-proposition $600 million bond package.
- Proposition B would allocate $492 million to modernize and optimize existing campus spaces, and replace school infrastructure features, such as roofs, chillers, boilers, windows at schools districtwide.
- Prop B would also cover a new school bus fleet with three-point seatbelts, a police vehicle fleet supporting district patrols and campus safety, and physical safety and security upgrades, such as after-hours site lighting, fencing and vestibules.
- Proposition C would direct $102 million to upgrade digital network infrastructure and teaching and learning devices.’
- Proposition D would use $6 million to improve Alamo Stadium and the Alamo Convocation Center.
The bond propositions are different from SAISD ballot item Proposition A, which is a VATRE measure where the district proposes a 3.17-cent hike on the M&O segment of the district’s property tax rate to fund pay raises, support student programs, and improve teacher recruitment and retention.
SAISD’s bond proposals would affect the debt service or I&S portion of the district’s tax rate. If voters approve all four proposals, the estimated impact to the average SAISD homeowner would be an additional $1.99 per month in the 2026-2027 school year.
That taxing impact would increase to $3.25 more a month in the 2027-2028 academic year, and then $5.76 more a month in the 2030-2031 school year.
Regardless of school district, disabled taxpayers and those ages 65 and older will not have their taxes increased even if a bond election in their district were to pass.
What they are saying
Leaders in Comal, Northside and San Antonio ISDs have said it is not easy to even suggest floating a bond package in uncertain economic times that are marked by inflation, rising costs of living, and – in the case of NISD and SAISD – budget deficits.
Comal ISD officials said with their district’s student enrollment expected to exceed 40,000 by 2035, the time is now to get ahead of the growth curve and raise classroom capacity.
“Our community continues to grow, and that growth affects schools throughout the district,” Superintendent John Chapman said in a statement. “This proposal reflects the work of community members who carefully reviewed our needs and helped identify priorities related to safety, existing facilities, student capacity and technology.”
While Northside ISD continues to see residential growth, the district – one of the biggest in Texas – is grappling with stagnating student enrollment and property values, a budget shortfall, as well as an increase in the number of young district families sending their children to charter schools.
NISD voters approved in 2022 a nearly $1 billion bond, but in the past year, district officials have had to pause several bond projects in order to see whether they will proceed with school building optimization strategies that could affect multiple older campuses.
NISD board President Sonia Jasso said her district is willing to do what it takes to take care of its students and employees.
“The NISD board’s decision to call a VATRE and bond election reflects our continued commitment to the students, staff, and families of Northside,” she added in a statement.
San Antonio ISD voters last passed a bond in 2020. Since then, SAISD has endured a range of challenges, from delayed or questionable bond projects, school closures, declining student enrollment, struggles with academic accountability ratings, and a budget gap.
How SAISD has implemented its 2020 bond projects remains a source of contention within the district. Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann and district chief of staff Toni Thompson were both put on paid leave in early September amid mounting questions about the 2020 bond, and a pending formal analysis of how it was enacted. SAISD also marked its new school year with the introduction of a new superintendent, Adrian Bustillos.
When SAISD trustees voted in August to call for the bond and tax increase elections, they said the district must publicly share the achievements and problems resulting from the 2020 bond, and pledge to improve how the district will proceed with future bond-related projects.
“We should fulfill the commitment that we’re giving to the community,” board member Jacob Ramos said. “I’m always thinking, ‘Is there room for improvement?’ When we talk about improving academics, we can always improve bond work. We can work on how things go, and projects should get done a lot faster.”
When and where to vote
Early voting in Bexar County will be held 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19-23, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26-30, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 25 at 56 voting stations. Election Day polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Early voting in Comal County will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19-23, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26-30, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 25 across six locations. Election Day polling will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at 26 voting stations.
