North East ISD voters will weigh a $495 million bond proposal focused on repairing aging buildings, upgrading technology and improving safety — without raising taxes
SAN ANTONIO — Project Marvel isn’t the only big-ticket item on the ballot this November.
Voters in North East ISD will soon decide on a nearly $495 million bond, the second-largest in district history.
The proposal includes upgrades to aging buildings, new technology, athletic and safety improvements — but no new campuses. District leaders call the projects critical fixes designed to preserve what taxpayers already own.
It’s been ten years since NEISD last put a bond before voters. This November’s package is divided into five propositions, which voters will consider separately.
What’s in the bond
About 81 percent of the total, or roughly $400 million, is earmarked for repairs and upgrades through Proposition A — replacing chillers, repairing roofs and plumbing, and modernizing HVAC systems.
Proposition B asks voters to approve about $53 million for technology: replacing classroom devices for students and teachers, updating computer systems for the district’s police department and modernizing equipment for campus offices.
Proposition C focuses on athletics, including renovations to Littleton Gymnasium, Blossom Athletic Center and the Judson Road Complex.
Proposition D covers stadiums — more than $9 million for improvements at Comalander Stadium, Heroes Stadium and restroom upgrades at North East Sports Park.
Finally, Proposition E funds roughly $2 million in upgrades across NEISD natatoriums, including humidity-control systems that help prevent rust and extend building life.
Why now
Bo Carrington, a parent and member of the Facilities Steering Committee, said the effort began after Madison High School’s HVAC system failed in 2021.
“When they sent maintenance in, they said, ‘We can’t fix this — there’s no more Freon available. We have to replace it,’” Carrington said. “That’s what kicked this entire process off.”
Carrington, who has a son at Reagan High School, said committee members — parents, staff and community representatives — spent months evaluating the state of district facilities.
“The obvious ones were HVAC. In Texas, you’ve gotta have heat and you’ve gotta have air,” said Carrington.
A massive assessment
After two years of searching for a consultant, NEISD hired the firm Gordian to complete a district-wide facilities assessment — the first of its kind.
The study examined 458 buildings, 240 portables and more than 12 million square feet of space.
“That was sort of a seminal moment for us,” said Superintendent Dr. Sean Maika. “Our district, just like much of the United States, is good at building new stuff. We’re not always great at keeping up with what we have.”
The assessment provided what Maika calls “a clear line of sight” into the district’s infrastructure.
“That facilities assessment really crystallized a good picture,” he said. “Every time we repair something, it moves down on the priority list and lifts another one higher. We’ll always know the state of our facilities.”
Carrington said the study also highlighted issues many people never considered — such as humidity damage in swimming facilities.
“If you’ve ever been to a swim meet, it’s miserable,” he said. “While the humidity is uncomfortable, it also degrades the facility. So all the equipment open to the air is now rusting, it’s breaking down. So one of the things that the assessment told us is we need dehumidifiers in there. What that does is it extends the life of the building. Now we’ve got a structure that could maybe last another 20, 25, 30 years.”
The facilities database is now an ongoing digital dashboard that updates as repairs are made. Carrington called it a living document — one that helps the district prioritize needs from year to year.
“It’s being able to look at the district from the point of what’s needed right now, what’s needed tomorrow, and what’s going to be needed in the next three to five years,” he said.
Tax impact and oversight
State law (Texas Education Code § 45.003(b-1) and Election Code § 52.072(e)(1)(B)) requires that all school bond propositions on the ballot include the statement “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”. Despite that wording, district leaders emphasize the bond would not raise the current tax rate — at least for the next five years. Maika is confident the timeline extends beyond that.
Maika said NEISD has lowered its bond debt six times since 2015, thanks to refinancing and early payoffs.
“The Facilities Steering Committee that made this recommendation, it was important to them to keep a price point that did not do any tax rate increase whatsoever,” said Maika.
“Nobody wants to see that rate go up,” he added. “But I will also say as long as property values keep skyrocketing, it’s going to be tough. I think everybody’s struggling with that even at the state and federal level.”
If the bond passes, the district will form a Citizen Bond Advisory Council made up of parents and community members to ensure projects stay on time and on budget, “and that dollars go where they need to go,” Maika said.
Long-term stakes
Carrington said the bond is about preserving the district’s value — and, in turn, neighborhood property values.
“People want NEISD because of the school district,” he said. “If we don’t take care of the schools, people won’t keep coming or stay. Then property values drop. I’m gonna pay less taxes, but it’s because I have a property that’s worth less money.”
He added that waiting would only drive up costs.
“If it doesn’t pass, we’re still going to swim — but we’re just kicking the can down the road,” Carrington said. “It’s going to get more expensive the longer we wait.”
Looking ahead
Maika stressed that the bond isn’t a district mandate — it’s a community choice.
“This isn’t the district saying what needs to be done,” he said. “This is our community choosing what they believe should be done. As the property manager, I just need to know what you want done.”
Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 20. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The district has posted a full list of all 281 projects included in the bond package on its website.
“If voters go to the polls educated, that’s all I want,” Carrington said. “They can still vote no if they choose — I just want to make sure they’re doing it from an educated position.”