Corsicana ISD board calls Nov. 4 bond election to fund early-childhood center, high-school CTE and campus repairs

The Corsicana ISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 4 approved an order calling a bond election for Nov. 4, 2025, to fund a package of facilities projects that includes a proposed early childhood center for about 800 students, a high-school CTE (career and technical education) addition with four large labs, a new transportation building, classroom and restroom renovations, HVAC and roof replacements, structural repairs at two elementary schools and safety and security updates.

The Facilities Committee, which met monthly from January through May, recommended the list presented at the meeting. Trustees voted to approve the order; the motion passed. The board did not record a named mover or seconder in the public transcript of the meeting.

The bond package groups projects across the district but concentrates the largest share of work around the high school. Designers showed a concept that would add a new spine and circulation around the high-school campus, locate CTE labs adjacent to FM 774, and include an on-campus storm shelter. The proposed early childhood center was presented as a freestanding campus south of the middle school off Drain Road; planners said the concept would provide roughly 42 classrooms and serve approximately 800 three‑year‑olds through kindergarten.

"This isn't set in stone by any means," designer Merrill Bryan said during a preview of conceptual plans, noting the drawings are intended to help the public visualize possible projects and to test budgeting and programming assumptions.

The board also heard a legal-ethics briefing from Kelly Trompler of WRA on rules trustees and district staff must follow while the bond campaign is active. Trompler emphasized that Texas law forbids the use of government resources and staff time for political advocacy: "This code does prohibit the use of government resources on your ability to produce or distribute political advertising," she said, and outlined distinctions between factual information the district may publish and advocacy the district may not.

Trompler urged the district to publish factual materials — scope of projects, election date, estimated tax impacts, capacity and growth data — while avoiding language that could be construed as urging a vote for the measure. She also reviewed prohibited conduct, including using district email, copying equipment or letterhead for advocacy, or distributing partisan materials during work time. Trompler recommended staff consult bond counsel for specific questions and reminded trustees and employees that off-duty, off-campus advocacy is permitted using personal time and resources.

Meeting presenters said the bond would fund: a new early-childhood center accommodating pre‑K and kindergarten programs, a high‑school kitchen and cafeteria expansion, bathroom upgrades and classroom renovations at the high school, a new agricultural facility (including an arena), a new transportation building, improvements to Collins Intermediate, Bowie Elementary restroom upgrades and structural repairs at Bowie and Fannin elementaries, HVAC and roof replacements districtwide, new buses and campus safety and security updates.

Designers said the high-school addition concept would include four larger CTE labs (automotive, welding/metal, carpentry/wood, and ag/mechanical), outdoor build areas, expanded circulation and two group restrooms per floor in the new wing plus renovated restrooms elsewhere on campus. The CTE storm-shelter area was sized to accommodate the student body and staff per current code. On the early-childhood site, planners described a pod-based layout to reduce travel distances for younger students and to create smaller "neighborhood" learning clusters within the larger campus.

Next steps discussed on Aug. 4 include official campaign communications prepared under legal guidance, drafting of factual materials and project graphics for the public, and continued design refinement pending voter approval. Board and staff presenters asked community members to direct questions to district communications and the bond counsel as the district rolls out factual information about project scope and tax implications.

No formal bond project contracts or construction authorizations were approved at the meeting; the board approved only the order calling the election.