School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as the renovation of existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving the public school district permission to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a loan for their home. In Texas, a Board of Trustees (a group of locally elected citizens) calls a bond election so community members can decide whether or not they want to support the proposed facility projects.

The Denton ISD Citizens’ Advisory Committee reviewed and prioritized district needs relating to student population growth, building age, safety and conditions, and student opportunities. The Committee represented a broad cross-section of the community, including parents, community leaders, as well as teachers and students. The committee met six times over a five-month period and made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees on Jan. 10, 2023.

The 2023 bond package is designed to address growth, safety and security, technology and opportunities for students. 

The Board of Trustees called a bond election in the amount of $1.4 billion, which will not increase the district’s rate, to be brought before voters on May 6, 2023.

Attendance boundaries will not change because of the bond election, but attendance boundaries may change in the future because of growth and new school openings. The district continually monitors student enrollment, projected growth and building capacity to determine if and when attendance boundaries should be adjusted. For those reasons, attendance boundaries will likely change in the future, and the district typically notifies families of these changes 10 months prior to a school opening. 

District officials feel the ideal property size for school sites is as follows:

Elementary School: 15 - 20 acres

Middle School: 25 - 30 acres

High School: 75 - 100 acres

We will work with a team of experts, educators and students to design new schools with today’s instructional methods and student’s learning needs in mind. There will be an emphasis on designing cost-effective schools with energy-saving features.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrades are proposed for 30 campuses or facilities. Our newer schools already have geothermal wells and retention ponds for the irrigation of fields.

Union Park Elementary, Sandbrock Ranch Elementary and Shultz Elementary schools use solar energy and the district continues to explore the expansion of the system. Several outdoor projects include the installation of LED lighting for energy efficiency.

Security vestibules will be installed at 36 campuses and or facilities based on a recent increase in our security standards. Additionally, 17 campuses or facilities will receive keyless entry upgrades, and 22 will receive a centrally-located automatic door-locking system (panic button).

All secondary campuses will be outfitted with video access systems at all major entrances.

New schools will be designed with the most up-to-date features recommended by security experts. 

The tax rate will remain the same. In fact, the district’s overall tax rate has declined by $0.195 cents since Denton ISD’s last bond election in May 2018. It is the district’s intention to issue future bonds within the existing tax rate and sell bonds to fund projects when it has the capacity to do so - more commonly referred to as “growth pays for growth.”

Additionally, senior citizens 65 and older who have filed their Over 65 homestead exemption with the Denton County Appraisal District will not be impacted, as their taxes are frozen.

We are able to maintain the same tax rate because of increased revenue from growth in the area, rising TAVs (Taxable Assessed Values), and because the Board of Trustees has paid down existing bonds. Denton ISD has saved taxpayers $311 million since 2005 by making early bond payments.

School districts are required to have elections to get permission from voters to sell bonds to fund the new schools and facility projects. Bond money for the proposed projects outlined in the 2023 bond is not available to the district without an election approved by voters.

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.

Any registered voter who resides within the Denton ISD school district boundaries. 

You can check on the Denton County Voter Lookup page: www.votedenton.gov

The deadline for voter registration is April 6. If you are not registered to vote by this deadline, then you are not eligible to vote in this election. The Texas Voter Registration Application can be found online at www.votedenton.gov, or applications can be picked up at any post office, library, Department of Public Safety or Denton ISD school. 

You should receive a Voter Registration Certificate within 30 days. On Election Day, please bring your certificate to your local polling place if you have it. However, all that is required is a valid driver’s license. For more information about the required ID, visit:  Voter ID Requirement

Polling locations are listed on the Voting Info page.

During Early Voting (April 24-May 1), you may vote at any polling location in Denton County.

On Election Day (Saturday, May 6), you must vote at the site designated for your precinct. Look up your precinct information here: Denton County Voter Lookup