Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in the estimated costs of these projects?

Any costs communicated at this point are considered “all in” budgets that include design, permits, site prep, engineering, construction, furniture, equipment, inflation adjustments, and contingency. At this stage, costs are opinions of probable costs, which are expert-informed estimates based on industry standards. All projects will go through competitive bidding and cost controls to ensure bond funds are sufficient to complete every project.

If MISD builds a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, what will happen to The MILE?

The MILE currently houses MISD’s CTE programs and the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) and the High School Credit Recovery Programs (LEAP). Credit recovery allows students who have failed a course to retake it and earn credit toward graduation. Both programs are over capacity. If voters approve funds for a new CTE Center, there will be more space in The MILE for students who need the services and support provided by DAEP and LEAP.

What additions are proposed at the Ag Barn?

MISD offers students ages 8 and older the opportunity to raise and show animals such as rabbits, sheep, cows, and pigs. The proposed project would add more space to animal pens so more students can participate in animal projects. The proposal also includes classroom and storage additions for horticulture and ag mechanics and would address safety and security requirements with additional security fencing and a card access gate.

What additions and improvements are proposed at the Bus Barn?
Additions proposed include two additional mechanic bays for bus repairs, a bus wash bay, paving repairs, and additional square footage to provide training space, adequate restroom and breakroom spaces for staff and drivers.

Where is the new elementary school going to be built?
The proposed new elementary school will be in the Goodland development on Prairie Ridge Boulevard.

Are there any athletic projects proposed in this bond?
No. The 2025 bond proposal focuses on growth, infrastructure and capital improvements at existing facilities, buses, and technology devices. The Facility Planning Committee studied potential projects to address athletic facility needs, but the athletic projects did not reach consensus by the committee.

What’s included in Prop C – technology devices?
Proposition C would allow the district to continue the district’s replacement cycle for student and teacher devices, and allow the district to purchase new devices for growth.

What is a bond?

Just as homeowners borrow money in the form of a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home, a school district borrows money in the form of bonds to finance construction, renovation, and other capital projects. Districts repay bonds and interest over an extended period of time, much like a family pays off a loan for their house.

How can bond funds be used?

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions, renovations to existing buildings, land acquisition, technology, buses, and equipment, among other capital items. By law, bond funds may not be used to fund daily operating expenses, such as salaries or utilities, which are paid for out of the district’s Maintenance & Operations (M&O) budget.

Why do school districts hold a bond election?

School districts are required by law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds and to levy the taxes required to repay those bonds. MISD is asking voters to consider a bond to address growth, update existing facilities and infrastructure, construct phase one of a new CTE Center, purchase buses and technology devices.

What is meant by capital projects, capital improvements or capital expenditures?

• Construction or renovation of facilities (like schools, a CTE center or an Ag Barn)
• Major improvements, replacements or repairs to systems (such as HVAC, plumbing, flooring, or electrical)
• Infrastructure improvements (parking lots, safety systems, technology networks)
• Technology, bus, and equipment purchases

These projects are not routine maintenance like mowing, waxing floors, or repairing a broken window. They are big investments that require careful planning, budgeting, and often voter approval through bond elections.

Why are we having a 2025 bond election when voters rejected a bond in 2023?

In 2023 voters declined to pass a $415M bond proposal. Without voter approval on the 2023 proposal, there was no funding to address those projects. MISD’s enrollment continues to increase, and aging facilities and equipment are now two years older. MISD's bond history shows that the last time a bond was approved by voters was nearly 10 years ago in 2016, and those funds were used for the rebuild of JR Irvin Elementary School, the construction of Coleman Elementary School and Dieterich Middle School, as well as additions to Heritage High School.

Who selected the projects that are being proposed?

The Facility Planning Committee selected the projects and presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees accepted the committee's recommendation and added a budget for future land purchases to the bond proposal.

The Facility Planning Committee is a group of more than 80 citizens selected from a pool of more than 190 applicants from across the district. This group of parents, staff, community members, and business leaders toured campuses and met six times over three months to study and discuss enrollment trends, construction and equipment costs, community input, and potential projects.

How were the proposed projects selected?

Campus and district staff developed a list of needs, and those were studied by administration and consultants. The Facility Planning Committee then reviewed projects to determine which they considered to be most critical. The committee met at six different MISD campuses and the committee was offered the opportunity to tour four additional facilities to observe spaces and conditions of both new and aging facilities. The committee heard from community leaders familiar with growth and demographic trends in the area, they heard from experts in construction and cost estimating, and they had in-depth discussions among themselves as they prioritized and voted on projects to be included in a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. In order to be included in the recommendation, each project had to receive approval from 75 percent of the members who were present at the meeting. For a more in-depth look at their work, visit the Facility Planning Committee site.

What is the role of the Superintendent and district leaders in this process?

Growth, facility, and bond planning for the district’s current and future needs is one of the fundamental duties of school boards and district administrators. As such, there is a constant evaluation of needs based on the changing district population, the age of district-owned structures, changes in technology, and changes in instruction. When the district determines that it has needs beyond the capacity of the maintenance and operations budget, the district seeks input from a citizens’ committee and the Board may call a bond election.

Why are there multiple propositions on this ballot?

Midlothian ISD has placed multiple propositions on the ballot to comply with Texas state law, which requires certain types of projects, such as technology devices, be voted on separately. This ensures transparency and gives voters a clear choice on each investment area.

In addition, the MISD Board of Trustees chose to present the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center as a standalone proposition. This decision reflects a commitment to fairness and transparency, allowing the community to have a voice in the expansion of career-focused learning opportunities for students.

Voters are encouraged to review the information and vote in the bond election.

How will the 2025 bond election affect my taxes?

If the bond proposal is approved by voters, the district’s tax rate is not expected to increase because of this bond election.

Why does the ballot language say this is a tax increase?

In 2019, the Texas Legislature passed a law that requires all school bond ballots to include the phrase “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” In 2025, the Legislature updated state laws and now that statement is required to be in all caps as a heading on the ballot.

The district's financial adviser has determined that Midlothian ISD can afford to issue the proposed 2025 bonds at the current I&S tax rate. Although MISD’s tax rate is not expected to increase because of this bond election, voter approval of the bonds means that residents are authorizing the school district to take on new debt. This debt will be repaid over time with taxes paid by local property owners. 

How can Midlothian ISD afford to issue bonds without a tax rate increase?

Continued growth and development, paying down debt, and low interest rates combine to make it possible for MISD to pay debt with no increase to the tax rate.

What is a Homestead Exemption?

A Homestead Exemption is a property tax benefit that reduces the taxable value of a homeowner’s primary residence, thereby lowering the amount of property taxes owed. In MISD, there are several Homestead Exemptions, including:

1. MISD has granted an optional exemption equal to 10% of a home’s market value.
2. Texas also mandates a homestead exemption. In November, the state is asking voters to approve an increase to the exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. For the average homeowner in MISD, the exemption is expected to translate to an annual savings of $2,000 in school taxes.
3. Age 65 or Older or Disabled Persons qualify for an additional $10,000 residence homestead exemption. In November, the state is asking voters to approve an increase to this exemption up to $60,000.

To qualify:

• You must own and occupy the property as your principal residence.
• You cannot claim a homestead exemption on another property, in or outside Texas.
• You must apply through the Ellis County Appraisal District by April 30.

What if I'm 65 years old or older and receive the "senior citizen exemption" and my home values go up?

For residents 65-years and older, their school district tax bill will not increase, even if their property values increase (excluding improvements made to the property which could affect value) as long as an approved Homestead and Over-65 Exemption application is on file with the Ellis County Appraisal District, and the property has been owned as of Jan. 1 of the tax year.

Why is there no other way to fund these projects?

Most construction, facility improvements, and equipment purchases exceed what Texas school districts can afford to pay out of their general operating budget. This is why the state established a system for schools to hold bond elections, which are often the only option to fund major capital projects.

The Texas Education Agency in the Financial Integrity Ratings System of Texas (Schools FIRST Rating) sets the guideline for school districts to have three months of operating expenditures in fund balance. Maintaining the required fund balance as well as the operational needs of the district restricts districts from building adequate savings to fund major infrastructure projects and accommodate growth in the student population.

Will technology and buses be financed for 30 years?

The life of the debt for assets like technology devices and buses will not exceed the life of the asset. On average, technology devices are paid within five years and buses within 15 years.

Who is eligible to vote in this election?

Anyone who is a registered voter and lives within the Midlothian ISD boundaries is eligible to vote in this election.

What if I'm new to the community and not yet registered to vote?

Voter registration applications are available in most government buildings. Learn more about registration at www.votetexas.gov.

How do I know if I am registered?

To see if you are registered to vote, visit Texas Secretary of State web site http://www.votetexas.gov.

Where and when can I vote?

Early voting begins October 20 and ends October 31. Election day is Tuesday, November 4. Ellis county allows voters to cast a ballot at any vote center in the county.

Polling locations and times will be posted on the Voting tab and on the Ellis County Elections page.

Will students be able to earn industry certifications at the CTE Center that are required for jobs after graduation?

Yes. Students will have the opportunity to earn certifications in a number of fields, which can save them money and allow them to immediately begin working in jobs that require those certifications. 

Is the CTE Center for students planning to go to college after graduation or for students who will go directly into the workforce?

Both. While many students may choose to use the experience gained at the CTE Center to give them a head start on their post-graduate studies at a two- or four-year college, some will choose to immediately join the local workforce after graduation. For example, some health science students may choose to immediately begin work in a healthcare setting as a patient care technician, phlebotomist, or radiology technician, while others may go on to a four-year university as a pre-med student.

Will Midlothian ISD be the only school district in the area with a CTE Center? 

No. Many school districts in our area have CTE centers. 

Will MISD keep The MILE open?

MISD will continue using the building. The space would be used to expand the LEAP program. LEAP is the high school credit recovery program that helps high school students take classes they failed during the regular school year. The program offers self-paced learning and flexibility in benchmarks and testing that helps students get on track to graduation. The CTE programs currently offered at The MILE will be moved to the new CTE Center once it opens (pending voter approval). Those programs would have additional space and equipment at the new campus, allowing more MISD students to participate. 

What is the size difference between The MILE and the proposed CTE Center?

CTE space at The MILE is approximately 32,000 square feet, and Phase 1 of the new CTE Center is anticipated to be approximately 125,000 square feet.

Why is this proposed as Phase 1?

Phasing a campus like this allows the district to save money now, grow into a larger footprint as enrollment grows, and expand programming in the future as the budget allows. The Facility Planning Committee recommended Phase 1 with a budget of $157 million.

When would the next Phase of a CTE Center be built?

That has not been decided at this time. The building will be designed in a way to allow for future expansion when appropriate. We anticipate that district leaders and the Board of Trustees will seek community input in the future when an expansion is recommended. Funds would likely need to be approved by voters in a future bond election. 

Where will the facility be located?

The specific location of the proposed Phase 1 CTE Center has not yet been determined. The district owns land that could be considered as a site for the proposed CTE Center.