Proposed $6.2B bond includes large investments in South and West Dallas ISD schools

Dallas ISD’s proposed $6.2 billion 2026 bond is broken down into four propositions, with the majority of the money in Proposition A.

Proposition A’s $5.9 billion share primarily focuses on renovating campuses districtwide and the construction of 26 brand new replacement campuses.

Renovations districtwide make up about $2.4 billion of the bond. Renovations vary by campus, but include wall and window renovations, roofing renovations, plumbing upgrades and more.

The largest proposed investments in South Dallas include:

• Lincoln High School at about $30 million
• Paul L. Dunbar Learning Center at about $20 million 

The largest proposed investments in West Dallas include:

• West Dallas Junior High School at about $28 million
• Dr. L. G. Pinkston Sr. High School at about $19 million
• Jesús Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard at about $15 million

Campus replacements make up about $1.9 billion.

In South Dallas, the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School and Charles Rice Learning Center would receive new campuses.

In West Dallas, Gabe P. Allen Elementary School would see a new campus.

Other big investments from Proposition A include:

• $403 million for safety and security, including video technology and command vehicles.
• $341 million for PE facility improvements, including turf, field houses and multi-use facilities.
• $219 million for portable removal.

Propositions B, C and D total about $314 million. The propositions are separated from Prop A mainly because state law prevents school districts from combining important projects with “luxury projects.”

Proposition B allocates $145 million for tech devices for students, classrooms and staff. Proposition C approves $143 million in debt refinancing, allowing the district to pay off certain debts and free up about $100 million in operational dollars. Proposition D allocates about $26 million to renovate its pool facilities.

The 2026 bond marks the completion of the 2020 bond. The $6.2 billion bond would increase property tax rates by 1 cent, and the district created a calculator so that property owners can find out how much more they will pay in annual taxes based on their property’s assessed value. (Residents 65 and older who have a homestead exemption would not see an increase.)

Residents at bond information sessions voiced the need for building improvements and new campuses, and asked for better ways to follow bond project spending and construction.

At a South Dallas information session in December, Bridget Willis Smith, a former teacher at Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School advocated for major improvements to the school. (Full disclosure: Willis Smith is also a trained Dallas Documenter.)

“Our amazing girls have been stuck in the same building designed for elementary students,” she said. “Even though our [school] has consistently brought positive [attention] to the district, we have been ignored while other schools have received new, beautiful buildings or remarkable face-lifts to their campuses. Our girls are crammed in their classrooms, designed for children half their size and age, despite them outperforming a majority of their peers.”

Other attendees asked about the 2020 bond projects that impacted their schools, namely improvements to Lincoln High School, and asked for clearer information when construction is delayed on a project and why.

At a West Dallas info session in April, Margaret Hernandez, a graduate of Gabe P. Allen, says she will be excited if this bond passes because “Allen definitely needs to be fixed.” 

Hernandez said the school is overcrowded and the kids are still in portables, which the 2026 bond promises to remove districtwide. She said she knows the benefits won’t be immediate, but they’re still important.