Voters in Ponder Independent School District are being asked to decide whether to approve a bond package to fund several projects across the district, including the building of two new schools, a school stadium expansion, and a device refresh for both students and teachers.
Documents published by the district reveal that the nearly $305 million bond package will cost taxpayers $587 million with interest.
The bond package will be divided between three propositions on the ballot:
Proposition A: $290,640,000 ($567,196,473 with interest) for the construction of two schools, expansion and renovations of several district schools and buildings, and the purchase of land for future schools.
Proposition B: $10,365,000 ($15,936,425 with interest) for expanding the existing stadium.
Proposition C: $4,000,000 ($4,324,182 with interest) for a teacher and student device refresh.
Currently, the district has $99,551,738 in outstanding debt.
On their website, the district argues that the projects are able to be funded at the district’s existing tax rate of $1.2766 for each $100 of assessed value.
However, regardless of the tax rate in any given year, local property owners’ tax burden would increase by the amount of the bond with interest.
Financial records show that Vote for Ponder ISD, the political action committee supporting the bond package, has received financial support from construction firms, engineering firms, and a flooring company—vendors which are likely to financially benefit from the bonds.
CORE Construction Services of Texas, Inc., Lee Lewis Construction, Inc., and Callaway’s Carpet, Inc. are the largest donors to the PAC.
Based out of Frisco, CORE Construction Services of Texas, Inc. highlights on its website that it has completed more than 2,000 active campuses and are the “#1 K-12 Builder” in the U.S. according to Building Design + Construction. CORE received more than $1 billion in K-12 facility revenue in 2024.
CORE Construction and Lee Lewis Construction both topped the list in “Building Design+Construction’s ranking of the nation’s largest K-12 school building contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2025.”
According to its website, Lee Lewis Construction “is one of the most prominent builders of school facilities in Texas, completing a wide range of educational construction, from new schools and renovations to specialized additions.”
It also highlights completing 430 K-12 projects in 70 different school districts throughout Texas.
Voters have the opportunity to either approve or reject the proposed debt package on the May 2, 2026 ballot. Early voting began Monday and will run through April 28.
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