area schools met with mixed results – Houston Public Media
Voters across the Houston region were asked to provide additional funding for their local school districts, either through bond elections or proposed tax-rate increases.
The results Tuesday were mixed.
Most notably, voters rejected a $4.4 billion dollar bond package for Houston ISD , which would have been the largest in Texas history. About 58 percent of voters opposed each of the two bond propositions in what could be considered a rebuke of the district's state-appointed leadership, which was installed by the Texas Education Agency in June 2023.
Also rejected was a $115.4 million bond package for Willis ISD. The district north of Houston was seeking to use the money for an athletic complex and stadium, an aquatic center and a student activity center.
"While we are disappointed that the community did not approve this bond, we respect and appreciate the voice of our voters that showed in larger numbers," Willis ISD school board president Kyle Hoegemeyer said in a statement on the district's website . "We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to address the ongoing needs of our district in a fiscally responsible manner."
Voters in Waller ISD , a fast-growing district northwest of Houston, approved a $702.5 million proposition for new schools, new buses and land acquisition. However, they opposed another proposition asking for $11 million for technology upgrades.
Alvin ISD, located south of Houston, got more than 60 percent support for a $380.1 million measure to construct new schools, renovate existing campuses and bolster safety and security. A $60 million bond package for Anderson-Shiro CISD, which serves an area between College Station and Huntsville, was also approved, according to a social media post by the school district . An $80 million bond for Tarkington ISD , northeast of Houston in Liberty County, was rejected by voters.
At a time when many school systems are facing financial crunches amidst inflation and stagnant per-student funding from the state, several other districts in the Houston area asked voters to approve tax-rate increases.
Those requests were narrowly approved by voters in Alief ISD , located in southwest Houston, and in Montgomery ISD north of the city. Proposed rate hikes were rejected by voters in districts such as Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, Magnolia ISD, Spring ISD and Texas City ISD.
The tax-rate increase in Montgomery ISD , approved by 50.5 percent of voters, is expected to generate about $5.5 million in annual revenue.
"Montgomery ISD is committed to providing a premier learning experience for our students and the election results show our community is, too," school board vice president Laurie Turner said in a statement released by the district.
