The Houston R-1 School District has taken another step toward an April 2026 bond issue by naming the proposition and finalizing official ballot language.
The Board of Education approved Proposition K.I.D.S. during its monthly meeting Tuesday night to address the district’s dilapidated track and make other improvements around the campus. The acronym stands for “Keep Improving District Schools.”
The $2.95 million no levy increase bond issue will “renovate, construct, equip and furnish a new track and natural field at its current location” and include additional accessibility measures. Bond funds will also be used to renovate the middle school gymnasium and exterior of the Fine Arts Building as well as pay off the Piney River Technical Center lease financing.
The election is April 7, 2026. The filing deadline is Jan. 27.
Approximately two-thirds of the bond will be used for the track, estimated at $1.95 million. One detail of the project – how many lanes the rubber surface track will include – remains undecided.
“We’re working with the company to see if the footprint could be eight lanes,” said Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent of Houston Schools.
Watch the video replay of the board meeting:
The district voted at the October board meeting to again partner with GeoSurfaces as project manager. The group, an artificial turf installation and sports surfacing company out of Louisiana, led the effort for the last bond issue that failed in 2024. It also featured an artificial turf football field and did not include other campus improvements.
At a minimum, Copley said the track will be six lanes. He asked the board last month for freedom to negotiate with GeoSurfaces with hopes of expanding to eight lanes.
“I’m fine leaving it open and not closing the door,” said board member Darren Ice. “If they come in with a better price on the eight and it’s real close – I don’t think it will be – I’d just assume leaving the options open.”
The bond name and ballot language passed with 5-1 approval. Marty Merckling dissented. Jennifer Scheets, board president, was absent.
In conjunction with the bond, the district will again apply for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant to assist with accessibility around the track. The district hopes to leverage the 50/50 matching grant program for concrete work on the south end of the track as well as the gravel area between the bleachers and concession stand. The total cost will be $86,000 and only be used if the bond receives voter approval.