Conroe ISD calls $1.98B bond election May 4
Conroe ISD voters will decide on a $1.98 billion bond May 4 to address rapid student growth, with 2,500 new students annually and 70%+ campuses
CONROE, Texas — Conroe Independent School District voters will head to the polls this spring to decide the fate of a $1.98 billion bond package designed to accommodate the rapid influx of families moving into one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.
Following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees on February 20, the district has officially placed two propositions on the May 4, 2024, ballot. The proposal marks a pivotal moment for the district, which is currently grappling with a student population expansion that sees roughly 2,500 new students enroll annually.
The Bond Planning Committee, a citizen-led group tasked with reviewing the district’s long-term capital needs, spent months analyzing enrollment data and facility assessments before delivering their recommendations to the board. The resulting package is designed to address both immediate overcrowding and long-term capacity concerns.
Proposition A, the primary component of the package, asks for $1.976 billion. The funding is earmarked for the construction of seven new campuses: three elementary schools, two intermediate schools, one junior high school, and a new high school. Beyond new construction, the funds would facilitate renovations and expansions at existing campuses, significant safety and security upgrades, technological infrastructure overhauls, and the replacement of aging school buses.
Proposition B requests $8.2 million specifically for student and staff technology devices, including laptops and tablets necessary for modern classroom instruction.
District officials are emphasizing that the bond, if approved, will not trigger an increase in the district’s tax rate. Conroe ISD maintains that the current Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate of $0.23 is sufficient to cover the bond’s debt service. This stability is attributed to the district’s growing tax base and the strategic management of existing obligations.
The urgency of the request is rooted in current enrollment trends. Data from the district shows that more than 70% of current campuses are already at or exceeding their designed capacity. Projections from demographic studies indicate that if growth trends continue, Conroe ISD’s total enrollment could climb to 90,000 students by the 2033-2034 school year.
As the district navigates this period of high growth, the board is framing the bond as a essential step to maintain educational standards and facility safety for the next decade.
Election Day is Saturday, May 4, 2024. For residents who wish to cast their ballots early, the early voting period begins on Monday, April 22, and runs through Tuesday, April 30.
Detailed information regarding the bond, including specific project lists by school and boundary maps, can be found on the district’s official website at www.conroeisd.net. Residents are encouraged to verify their registration status through the Montgomery County Elections Department at mctxvotes.org prior to heading to the polls.