Victoria ISD board calls $240 million bond election for May 2, 2026 to fund new schools and campus upgrades

The Victoria Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve an order calling a $240,000,000 bond election to be held May 2, 2026, authorizing a package of construction, renovation, demolition and security projects across the district.

Trustee Castella moved the motion that the board "approve the order calling for the bond election in the amount of $240,000,000 to be held on 05/02/2026," and Mr. Jones seconded the motion. Chair called for discussion, trustees amended ballot language to mention a new Hopkins Elementary explicitly, and the board then voted "all in favor" with a 7-0 tally.

District staff presented the proposal as an 11-project package that includes a new Hopkins Elementary, an expansion at Torres Elementary (estimated $22,000,000), modernizations at Vickers ($20,000,000) and Patty Welder ($25,000,000), a 56-classroom renovation for Smith STEM (estimate $32,000,000), modernization of the historic Victoria High campus, targeted asset protection for 2010-era buildings, demolition of underused facilities and districtwide security and lighting upgrades.

The administration told trustees that the package is intended to address aging infrastructure and capacity equity across campus zones. The presenter summarized 25 years of enrollment data and reported 5,982 elementary students districtwide (noting an enrollment decline of roughly 1,888 students over the previous decade), and described planning assumptions that guided proposed elementary sizing and classroom-capacity calculations.

During discussion, community members and some trustees raised concerns about the size of proposed campuses and whether rezoning could reduce projected capacities. One trustee pressed whether the district’s numbers included pre-K students; staff confirmed pre-K is included in the enrollment tally, even for half-day programs. The presenter said the district aims to keep classroom ratios near its internal targets (22:1 for K–4; 25:1 in grade 5) and that occasional waivers are submitted when rooms exceed limits briefly.

Bond counsel Tom Sage advised the board on ballot language and legal flexibility, telling trustees the district can style the proposition broadly so that money may be shifted among district-authorized projects if needed. "Your Smith STEM Academy comes in under budget and the Patty Welder's a little bit over budget. The money can move without any any issue whatsoever," Sage said, explaining that some projects can be reallocated administratively though changing a publicly-described project can carry political consequences.

The board also instructed staff to form bond oversight bodies drawn from the bond advisory committee (BAC), parents and administrators to monitor project delivery and to provide transparency to voters about how funds are spent. Trustees and staff discussed demolition cost estimates (Stroman campus abatement and demolition was presented at about $3,000,000; other sites estimated lower) and plumbing/MEP priorities at campuses such as Howe Middle.

Following the vote to call the election, trustees moved and approved retaining bond counsel and co-counsel to support the district during the election and issuance process. Bond counsel said legal and financial advisors are typically paid from bond proceeds only if bonds are actually issued.

Next steps: With the order approved, the bond will appear on the May 2, 2026 ballot per the amended language. If voters approve the proposition, the district will proceed with phased financing and the layered oversight structure described by trustees.