Based on the recommendations of a community bond steering committee, RISD trustees on August 7 voted to place three bond propositions before voters as part of the November 4 election. The total of all three propositions is $1.4 billion. The three propositions include funds designed to address needs across the district as prioritized by the committee:
Proposed projects would complete the RISD Middle School Transformation initiative for the six junior high campuses that were not part of Bond 2021 capital projects: Apollo, Liberty, North, Parkhill, West, and Westwood. In 2020, following an extensive study and community input, RISD adopted the middle school instructional model, moving 6th grade from elementary schools into middle schools. This aligns RISD with more than 95% of Texas districts. Considerations included academic performance, curriculum alignment, extracurricular opportunities, and student wellness.
Proposition A also includes the proposed construction of a new Career and Technical Education, or, CTE Center. Serving students from all four high schools, this facility would expand access to specialized, hands-on programs that strive to prepare students for high-demand careers with options to earn industry certifications.
Another Proposition A project is the renovation of the Environmental Studies Center. For 50 years, RISD students have visited the center to study local plants and wildlife and engage in outdoor learning. The facility has not undergone significant updates since it opened, and nearby development has shifted the building further into the floodplain. Proposed improvements include modernized facilities, improved accessibility, and expanded capacity for student learning.
Proposition B includes funding for a technology refresh/replacement, with devices for students, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and staff. It also includes WiFi hotspots for students to support digital learning. In accordance with state law, technology devices are presented as a separate proposition.
Proposition C, valued at $7,400,000, focuses on upgrades for the district’s two largest stadiums: Eagle/Mustang and Wildcat/Ram. Due to their high occupancy, state law requires these stadiums to have their own separate proposition. Planned projects include ADA seating upgrades to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and LED lighting and turf replacement.
Tax Rate Increase: the approved bond election includes a $0.04 I&S (Interest & Sinking) tax rate increase. For a home with an average market value of $500,000 in RISD, this would result in an estimated annual increase of $124, or $10 per month.
The recent property tax rate adopted by RISD’s Trustees at $1.1052 per $100 of taxable value, is the district’s lowest overall tax rate since 1989.
The last bond referendum was in 2021. Capital projects funded through Bond 2021 are 100% complete, with final projects completed this past summer. The RISD community has passed every school bond referendum since the first one the school district put on the ballot in 1951. The school district has traditionally operated on a five-year bond cycle since 1996.
Early voting is from October 20 to October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. For additional information on RISD’s Bond 2025, including a full schedule of community information sessions hosted by the district in each of the four learning communities, visit www.risd.org/bond2025
