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Magnolia ISD Board of Trustees Calls Revised May 2 School Bond Election To Address Growth

The Magnolia ISD Board of Trustees unanimously called a revised school bond election for May 2, 2026. The $465.6 million proposal includes prioritized projects focusing on the next 0-2 years. 

The proposal on the May ballot will include a new high school, two elementary schools, safety and security projects, a reduced number of replacement school buses and new ones for growth, land for future school sites, and capital improvements to address aging systems.

After conducting a listening tour and hearing updates on accelerated enrollment growth from the district’s demographers, the Administration proposed a revised, single-proposition bond package, down from the multi-proposition proposal rejected by voters in November. Propositions B and C were rejected by a greater margin of voters, while Proposition A was narrowly rejected by 126 votes last fall. 

MISD held campus and community meetings, conducted ThoughtExchange engagements, and obtained feedback from key stakeholders over the past 8-10 weeks. The district also considered accelerated enrollment numbers and rising construction costs as it put together a new plan to manage district growth.

The May election does not include athletic facilities or field turf, nor does it include the costs associated with these projects, which were originally recommended by a committee of citizens and educators who studied district growth patterns and facilities. The projects to renovate aging systems, purchase new school buses, and buy land for school sites were all reduced from the original proposal to focus on MISD for the next 0-2 years.

This revised single-position election will primarily address growth and classroom space. Although Magnolia ISD was projected to grow by 479 students this school year, the district actually experienced a 670-student increase. The district is projected to grow by 4% annually over the next decade. Delays in construction costs result in projected project increases due to inflation, labor, and materials. To minimize the impact on local taxpayers, school officials agreed to remove some of the projects from the original list.

MISD can layer in new debt for this revised bond proposal without changing the existing school tax rate. Although projects would be paid for using local tax collections on the debt service side of the school tax rate, there is no change to the MISD rate as a result of this election. With the tax base growing from new developments and MISD paying debt down early, MISD has created enough capacity to propose a smaller bond election without increasing the tax rate. By law, public school districts are now required to include THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE at the beginning of every school bond ballot, even if the rate will not change.

The total amount for projects in the May Bond proposal equals $465,688,326 and includes the following projects:

• High School #3 
• Elementary School #10 
• Elementary School #11
• Safety & Security Projects
• Land for future school sites
• School Buses
• Renovations of aging systems

The district will soon provide the community with a webpage and print materials that show project details and voting information for the May 2 election.

During the 89th Legislative Session, Governor Greg Abbott signed Texas House Bill (HB) 1481 into law, requiring school districts to prohibit student access to personal communication devices, including cellphones, smartwatches, tablets, smart devices, and earbuds, during the school day. The bill includes exceptions for students who require devices for medical reasons, special education needs, or safety-related accommodations.

To comply with the new law, during Monday night’s regular meeting, the board approved the Magnolia ISD Policy FNCE (local) related to cell phones and other personal communication devices. Starting on the first day of school, August 11, 2025, students will not be permitted to use their personal communication devices during the instructional day–from the first bell until dismissal. Phones and personal communication devices must be kept in a backpack, purse, or pocket. The policy applies to all classrooms, passing periods in the hallway, the cafeteria, locker rooms and other school property during the instructional day.

Students who violate the policy will face disciplinary consequences according to the Student Code of Conduct. Parents can rest assured that, in the event of emergencies or urgent matters, the school office is their reliable point of contact. The school will promptly relay urgent messages to students and ensure that the students can contact their parents or guardians if needed.

HB 1481 state-wide educational policy on personal communication devices, aims to reduce distractions and improve classroom focus, reflecting a national trend.

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