Facility Study Committee Recommends $175.3 Million Bond to Address Growth, Equity, and Aging Infrastructure

After six months of intensive study, site visits, and public engagement, the Midway ISD Facility Study Committee (FSC) has presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees: consider calling a $175.3 million bond election for November 4, 2025 — with no tax rate increase to residents.

While the board did not take action on the recommendation, trustees expressed deep appreciation for the committee’s thorough work and acknowledged the continued efforts that will be needed in the months ahead as they consider whether to call a bond election.

“I appreciate the hard work it is to come up with this recommendation,” Board Secretary Pam Watts said. “It’s not easy to make the decisions on what stays and goes and how we move forward for students, staff and our community.”

The 49-member committee, representing parents, community leaders, educators, and taxpayers from across the district, dedicated over 500 cumulative hours to evaluating Midway ISD’s facility needs. 

“We didn’t take this task lightly,” said FSC Chair Jordan Barry. “Every decision was grounded in what’s best for kids today — and for generations of students to come.”

Their work focused on three key priorities: planning for growth, addressing facility equity and condition, and leveraging bond funding to relieve pressure on the annual operations budget.

Planning for Growth

Projects in the proposed bond focused on preparing for enrollment growth allow the district to serve more than 900 additional elementary students by 2028, when enrollment is expected to exceed 90% of the district’s functional capacity. Projects include:

• Build a new Speegleville Elementary on a district-owned site, opening with 500-student capacity and core space to expand to 750.
• Add capacity for 250 students at Spring Valley Elementary.
  Improve functional space at Castleman Creek, Woodway, Hewitt, and South Bosque, while eliminating portable classrooms.
• Expand Midway High School facilities to include locker rooms and a third gym to support enrollment that has grown by 800 students since the building opened in 2003.

In addition to growth-related construction, the recommendation addresses critical infrastructure and maintenance needs across nearly every campus—excluding Park Hill, which opened in 2022.

“From HVAC and plumbing to furniture, flooring, and lighting, the district’s oldest facilities show decades of wear,” Barry said. “Facility audits revealed that some campuses are already as poor as 23% on the Facility Condition Index (FCI), and many systems have exceeded their expected life span.”

Projects focused on infrastructure needs include:

• Replace outdated infrastructure across the district, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and flooring systems.
• Replace 25+ year-old classroom furniture at multiple campuses.
• Invest in safety, security, and technology infrastructure, including servers, networking, classroom devices, and data backup systems.

Committee members also emphasized equity in student experiences as a driving force behind their proposal. Many older campuses lack the modern learning environments seen at newer schools, and program spaces for fine arts and athletics have not kept pace with student enrollment or evolving needs. The proposed bond also includes:

• Renovate and equip fine arts and performing arts spaces districtwide, from elementary AV equipment to high school theater and the Performing Arts Center.
• Repair and expand locker rooms, create space for growing program needs,  and organize existing spaces for better utilization..

“The differences between campuses built 70 years apart are startling,” said committee member Ashley Rodriguez. “We’re recommending action that ensures every Midway student, regardless of campus, learns in a safe, functional, and equitable environment.”

Due to sound financial management and early debt repayment, Midway ISD would be able to fund this package without a tax increase.

“This is a fiscally responsible plan,” said Dave Deaconson, an FSC member with 18 years of service on the Midway Education Foundation. “We’re protecting the operational budget, addressing long-term needs, and doing it without raising taxes.”

The committee also emphasized the importance of long-range planning, encouraging the Board to continue studying secondary campus needs, additional transportation and maintenance facilities, and projects not included in the current proposal.

“This bond is the beginning, not the end,” said Ahmad Washington, a local business owner and parent. “Our work is a community investment in student success, workforce readiness, and the quality of life in Midway ISD.”