Water damage from a leaky roof at Fossil Ridge High School in the Keller school district. The district is asking voters to approve $828 million to repair and update schools.
Keller school district
The Keller school district hasn’t held a bond election in seven years and is facing significant needs for repairs and upgrades at 34 campuses, including replacing HVAC units and aging roofs.
During school board meetings, teachers described how temperatures can climb to 90 degrees in classrooms, which creates a stressful environment and has led to more discipline problems.
On Aug. 13, , the school board voted 5-1 to call an $828 million bond election, following recommendations from a 65-member bond advisory committee that spent numerous hours touring schools and evaluating the district’s needs.
There are five propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Early voting begins Oct. 19 and ends Oct. 30.
The Keller school district has deployed 200 spot coolers to classrooms at a cost of $100,000 a week while it awaits HVAC system repairs. Keller school district
Although Texas law requires that the ballot must include language stating that there will be a tax increase, the district said it can pay for the bond projects within the existing tax rate.
Spokesperson Bryce Nieman said in an email that the district can pay for the bond projects within the existing tax rate.
The Keller school district’s tax rate is $1.0852 per $100 of assessed value and is divided into the maintenance and operations portion, of which 75.52 cents is used for day to day operations and 33 cents is used to pay down debt.
Spokesperson Bryce Nieman said trustees kept the tax rate the same as last year’s, and it is the lowest rate since 1988.
Trustee Chris Coker, who voted against calling the bond election, said during the Aug. 13 meeting that he knows repairs are needed, but that he doesn’t believe the community members he has spoken to will support the large amount of money.
“I’m not saying that we couldn’t put this money to use, because we absolutely can,” Coker said, at the Aug. 13 meeting. “The question is, at what rate are we going to put it to use? And I think that when you just give unfettered access to cash, all of a sudden they magically find reasons and ways to spend that cash.”
Superintendent Cory Wilson said the district was using general fund money — which pays for salaries and student programs — to cover the repairs.
Nieman also described how the district is using nearly 200 spot coolers at a cost of $550 per unit per week. This means the Keller school district is spending around $100,000 a week out of the operating budget to provide temporary relief.
The concrete is cracking on the front drive at Fossil Ridge High School in the Keller school district. Keller school district What’s on the Keller ISD school bond ballot
Here is a breakdown of the five propositions listed on the ballot which are on the district’s bond website.
Proposition A: Maintenance, repairs and renovations at 34 campuses and facilities
$756,300,896: Keller ISD spends millions of dollars from its operating budget to address aging building systems. Proposition A covers roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, code compliance, and safety systems at 34 campuses and buildings. It also includes a partial rebuild of Keller Middle School, preserving the portions of the campus that were newly constructed under the 2019 bond.
Members of a citizens committee view water damage in a classroom at Fossil Ridge High School in May. The Keller school district is asking voters to approve $828 million to repair aging campuses. Keller school district Proposition B: Technology for students and staff
$28,000,000: Keller ISD spends $6 million from its operating budget each year to refresh student and staff devices. Proposition B funds those devices.
Proposition C: Natatorium system repairs
$8,867,510: The Keller ISD Natatorium is closed. Proposition C covers repairs to water filtration systems, dehumidifiers and theHVAC system.
Proposition D: Athletic complex site repairs and field house renovation
$11,025,446: The Keller ISD Athletic Complex serves as the competition venue for all Keller ISD high schools. Proposition D covers site repairs, including lighting, track, and turf replacement, along with restroom renovations. It also covers renovations to the adjacent Keller High School Field House and addresses mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues.
Proposition E: Turf projects
$23,913,963: Keller is one of the few districts in Northeast Tarrant County still using grass competition fields at the middle school level, along with grass high school baseball and softball fields. Three of the district’s middle school fields cannot be used for competitions during the 2026-27 school year. Proposition E covers installation of artificial turf at all Keller ISD middle schools as well as high school baseball and softball fields.
Want to know more about the bond election
There are several information sessions where Keller school district residents can learn more about what’s included and why the bond is needed.
6 p.m. Oct. 7 Hidden Lakes HOA, Hidden Lakes Elementary, 900 Preston Lane
6 p.m. Oct. 19 North Fort Worth Alliance, Heritage HOA Clubhouse, 9536 Courtright Drive
6 p.m. Oct. 20 Keller Council of PTAs, KISD Education Center, 350 Keller Parkway.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
With my guide dog Freddie, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.