Dallas ISD eyeing $6.2 billion bond for renovations, 26 new replacement campuses

Dallas ISD staff presented their preliminary 2026 bond plan during a Thursday board workshop meeting, proposing a $6.2 billion bond and $0.01 property tax increase for campus renovations, replacement school construction, and safety and technology needs.

A bond election is when a government entity, in this case the school district, asks voters to allow them to take on debt to fund large purposes and projects, such as building or renovating facilities or purchasing equipment and technology. DISD held a bond election in 2015 that was approved and a bond election in 2020 that was partially approved.

Bond priorities were recommended by the Citizen Bond Steering Committee.

Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 bond recommendations:

• Prop A- $5.9 billion
  • District-wide Renovations- $2.4 billion
  • New Replacement Campuses- $1.9 billion
  • Safety & Security- $403 million
  • Facility Upgrades- $218 million
  • Technology- $276 million
  • Athletics- $210 million
  • Transportation- $147 million
  • Playgrounds/ Courtyards/Turf- $37 million
  • Property & Land Use- $16 million
  • Energy Efficiency- $16 million
• Prop B- Technology Upgrades- $145 million
• Prop C- Debt Service- $143 million
• Prop D- Natatorium- $26 million
• Total- $6.2 billion

The majority of Prop A would go toward facility renovations and the building of 26 new replacement schools, including Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in South Dallas and Gabe P. Allen Elementary School in West Dallas.

Prop A would eliminate the need for portable classrooms by adding 400 classrooms.

Prop A would also add security technology, new buses, sustainability equipment, structural improvements to sport facilities and fields and would include a land use study to determine what to do with the district’s vacant land.

Technology in the bond is split in Prop A and Prop B, with technology infrastructure and cybersecurity placed in Prop A, while student devices, classroom displays and computer labs placed in Prop B.

Prop C refinances a $143 million loan that the district obtained in 2013 and moves that note from maintenance and operations to debt services, freeing up about $100M in operating funds.

Prop D is for an natatorium, or indoor pool facility.

Property tax increase

The bond proposes a $0.01 property tax increase. District staff said the increase would lead to an average Dallas home (valued at about $500,000) being taxed $33.48 more a year.

Staff said there was minimal advantage to a “no tax increase” scenario because voters don’t believe that language, and voters are open to a small tax increase if the benefits are explained, according to their surveys.

Emphasis on communication

District board members praised the bond steering committee and staff for their work, but stressed the importance of communicating the propositions to voters, especially for Props C and D. 

District 1 boardmember Lance Currie said staff needs to explain to voters why a tax increase is the ideal option.

Board members also said there needs to be a better way for the board and community members to stay up-to-date on projects. 

“I love the bond dashboard,” District 5 boardmember Byron Sanders said. “But how do we take that to the next level so that folks understand what the plan is, when things are happening, what stages we’re in, and also, if there are changes, we do it aboveboard.”

The workshop meeting was for board members to engage with the steering committee’s recommendation for the first time. There will be a public hearing for the bond at the January board meeting.

Watch the 12/18 meeting here. Read the full notes here.

About the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees:

The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees is responsible for the policies that govern the operation of DISD schools. It consists of 9 elected members.

Dallas Documenters Editor David Silva Ramirez attended the Dec. 18 Dallas ISD bond workshop meeting, and this brief emerged from his notes. Click here to learn how you can become a paid Documenter at public meetings.