North Texas voters in several school districts will consider billions of dollars in bond proposals in this Saturday’s elections.
The single largest ask comes from Celina ISD, north of Prosper in Denton and Collin counties. The district is floating a bond package worth $2.3 billion, most of which would go toward new schools to accommodate a booming population.
Officials say more than 800 people are moving into Celina every month, on average. The district estimates enrollment — now at about 5,500 students — could quadruple over the next decade.
“We know we're going to need a lot more schools to support this growth,” said Superintendent Tom Maglisceau.
Proposition A totals $2.27 billion. It would fund at least 11 new buildings, renovate others, and add upgrades across the entire district.
Celina’s Proposition B, worth $20 million, would fund new and upgraded technology. The district said it’s nearing completion of projects included in its $600 million bond passed in 2019.
The region’s second largest school bond proposal comes from Melissa ISD, another rapidly growing community, just north of McKinney. The district is asking voters to approve two propositions worth $875 million. School district officials say the student population has doubled over the past 5 years, and they estimate it will increase 67% over the next 10 years.
Proposition A, for $800 million, would fund new schools, renovations, an Early Childcare Center, buses and land for future structures.
Proposition B, for $75 million, would upgrade network infrastructure, classroom technology, and digital safety and security.
After voters rejected its bond package last year, Argyle ISD is once again trying with a downsized proposal. This year’s package is $88 million less than the 2024 plan.
Proposition A seeks $394 million for new and upgraded buildings, land, buses and technology. Proposition B, for $29.5 million, would fund a new baseball/softball complex.
DeSoto ISD’s package includes three bond proposals totaling almost $200 million. The biggest, Proposition A, for $152.7 million, would fund campus renovations and a replacement for Frank Moates Elementary.
Proposition B, at $38.6 million, would pay for a new student athletic center including lockers and learning spaces, and other athletic renovations.
Proposition C, for $8.5 million, would fund renovations to the high school stadium.
Ferris ISD’s school board is putting a package worth $134.7 million in front of voters. If approved, it would pay for new schools, renovations to existing structures, and new classrooms added to schools. Administrators say the growing student population will outgrow current capacity by 2027. City leaders back the district’s bond election.
Mesquite ISD is asking voters to approve $600 million in two bond propositions Saturday.
Proposition A includes $578.5 million to pay for security upgrades, the consolidation of two elementary schools, a new Pre-K center and campus maintenance and improvements.
Proposition B, worth $21.5 million, will fund instructional technology replacements.
And in Terrell, east of Dallas, the school district is seeking voter approval for a bond package worth $273.4 million. It would fund district-wide safety enhancements, renovations and additions at seven campuses, the construction of a new elementary school, and the purchase of land for a future new middle school.
The district said most of its traditional campuses are already at or over capacity, and it’s projected to add nearly 4,000 new students over the next decade.
Bill Zeeble is KERA’s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him on X @bzeeble.
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