Houston ISD
672e616a2e70b783a8dacbe4 Houston Vote Edited

Voters reject Houston school district's $4.4 billion bond package

Nov. 8, 2024
Some blame the defeat on the takeover of district management by the state of Texas.

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.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy | Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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