Thanks to voters, Dallas ISD was able to make progress in addressing its facility maintenance needs through the 2020 bond, and the district has delivered important achievement gains since, most recently earning a “B” in state accountability, ahead of several of our esteemed suburban neighbors. And yet, there is still much more to do to improve the daily reality for tens of thousands of Dallas children and to address critical gaps in educational suitability and safety across Dallas ISD.
This May, voters again will have the opportunity to close those gaps significantly. The Dallas ISD board of trustees has authorized a $6.2 billion bond program for consideration on the ballot: a program shaped by more than a year of rigorous, community-driven planning and input. As chair of the 2026 Citizens Bond Steering Committee that recommended this proposal to our board of trustees, I believe this bond represents one of the most consequential investments our city can make in its own future.
Since spring 2025, nearly 100 community volunteers, including parents, educators, business leaders and neighbors have devoted thousands of hours to this effort. Working alongside Dallas ISD staff, we assessed each of the district’s 230-plus campuses and facilities. We examined what’s working, what’s not and what comes next. The process has been transparent, inclusive and grounded in data. Nothing about our recommendations was rushed or predetermined.
What we found confirmed what many Dallas families already know: Too many of our school facilities still lag behind the quality of instruction happening inside them. Our teachers are doing remarkable work, and our students are rising to meet high expectations. But we are asking them to do modern education in buildings that, in some cases, belong to another era entirely. If we want to develop 21st-century learners who are prepared for 21st-century careers, we must give them suitable 21st-century facilities. To address this, the four propositions are:
Opinion
Proposition A ($5.9 billion): builds 26 new campuses; eliminates use of all portables across the district; transforms aging schools, physical education facilities and playgrounds; upgrades technology infrastructure; increase safety and security; and, improve school transportation.Proposition B ($144.7 million): replaces devices for students, staff, career and technical education labs, and library and media centers.Proposition C ($143.3 million): refinances existing debt to save $10 million in operations.Proposition D ($26.3 million): funds critical maintenance repairs and renovations to district swimming pool facilities.
I understand that any conversation about a bond program raises fair questions about cost and stewardship. These are big numbers, and those questions deserve honest answers. The 2026 Citizens Bond Steering Committee was guided from the start by a commitment to responsible use of taxpayer resources. Transparency and accountability were not afterthoughts; they are embedded in every idea we heard, every project and proposal eliminated, and in each recommendation we have made. This is a community that has entrusted us with their confidence, and we do not take that lightly in recommending a modest 1-cent rate increase (about $33 per year for the average $500,000 home in Dallas) to significantly improve our educational facilities for years to come.
But I would also ask my fellow Dallasites to consider what it costs us to do nothing. When a child walks into a school building that is outdated, under-resourced or unsafe, that environment sends a message — whether we intend it or not. A robust bond program is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about keeping a foundational promise to all our neighbors: that public education means equal education, and that where you live should not determine how well you learn.
Meritocracy is the word of the moment in our national conversation. But real meritocracy is not just about talent and effort. It turns on how much we are willing to invest in developing a child’s talent so their effort can actually pay off. A school bond is precisely that kind of investment: one that says to every student in every ZIP code across this district that you matter, you belong and you can achieve anything.
I come to this work not as a policy wonk, but as a parent. I have one recent Dallas ISD graduate and two current students. Like every parent in this city, I want my children — and all children — to walk into schools that inspire and enable them. I also come to this as someone who has built a career in Dallas civic life, and I can tell you that few investments generate real returns the way education does. Strong schools strengthen neighborhoods, attract employers and build the kind of city where families want to put down roots.
Dallas has always been a city that bets on itself. This bond is a bet on our children — all 135,000 of them. It is a bet that says we will not settle for facilities that fall short of our students’ potential. It is a bet that can become a reality in every corner of this district with the support of voters.
I urge every Dallas voter to learn about the bond proposals, attend community forums and support these 4 propositions this May. Our children are watching. Let’s show them what Dallas believes they’re worth.
After all, Dallas votes for kids.
Drexell Owusu is Chair of the 2026 Citizens Bond Steering Committee for Dallas ISD. He previously served as Co-Chair of the 2020 Citizens Bond Steering Committee and Chair of the Bond 2020 Advisory Committee. He is a Dallas ISD parent and also serves as Chief Learning Officer at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
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