Voters in the Houston Independent School District have rejected the largest school bond proposal in Texas history.
Houston Public Media reports that the defeat of the $4.4 billion bond package could be considered a referendum on the district's state-appointed superintendent and board of managers, installed by the Texas Education Agency in June 2023.
Nearly 58% of voters opposed Prop A, which sought $3.96 billion for school rebuilds and renovations as well as safety and security upgrades. Prop B, which sought $440 million for technology systems and infrastructure, was rejected by more than 58% of voters.
“What we didn’t want it to be was a referendum on (Superintendent) Mike Miles,” said Children At Risk president and CEO Bob Sanborn, whose nonprofit supported the bond. “And what it turned out to be was really a referendum on Mike Miles.”
Miles called the bond defeat “unfortunate and wrong” because of pressing facilities needs in the district.
“In this instance, the politics of adults beat out the needs of our children,” he said.
The bond package would have focused on elementary and middle school campuses.
