Sharyland community comes together to support potential 2026 bond election

After gathering community input for two and a half months, the Sharyland ISD facility planning committee recommended a $250 million bond for the May 2026 election to fund upgrades on all campuses.

Hundreds of Sharyland community members attended a series of facility planning meetings to provide input on the district’s long-term needs. Attendees had in-depth discussions about the state of the district, project concepts and cost before voting on three potential project packages based on stakeholder wants and needs. Out of more than 450 community members, the majority voted in favor of the package with an estimated $260.3 million in campus projects — the most expensive option.

The $260.3 million package includes an aquatic center, renovations and new builds. A close second option was a $224.2 million package, and a third package of $220 million. The less expensive options excluded certain wants from the community.

“For the majority, we feel we want the whole package…to be able to renovate, build new facilities to be able to expand and meet the needs of our students,” SISD teacher and facility planning committee member Isaac Pietrzak said.

Other projects in the $260.3 million package include gym renovations at elementary campuses and Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy, a new auditorium at Sharyland High School, a fine arts addition at Pioneer High School, collaborative spaces at the junior highs and a districtwide upgrade of classroom devices.

The committee also looked at school finances and tax scenarios during the planning meetings.

Over the last 10 years, Sharyland ISD has decreased its total tax rate by 41.8 cents. If voters approve a $250 million bond in May 2026 to pay for the projects, it would increase the district’s tax rate by about 20 cents. The estimated monthly impact would be about $28 for a homeowner with a $170,000 taxable value.

Given the district’s tax rate history, SISD parent and facility planning committee member Juliane Czapla said it’s time for a change.

“We are due for an increase,” she said. “When people talk about what they want, I often say, ‘Well, you want the best, but you’re not willing to pay the best.’ So this is just something that I hope will be well received.”

In 2020 and 2021, constituents voted against a $40 million bond and a $35 million bond, respectively. At the time, the district planned to use the funds for John H. Shary Elementary, SHS, SA3 and a new central administration building. The 2020 bond failed with an overwhelming majority; the 2021 bond failed by six votes, leaving the district to struggle to afford needs that didn’t go away.

However, the district used a different approach this time around, especially when it comes to community input. Former Athletic Director Richard Thompson, who has been an active member of the facility planning committee, made note of the increased public engagement in a video segment about the process.

“In the past we haven’t been quite as involved in bond elections as we have this time,” Thompson said. “I think when you involve the community as much as we have this year with the school board and the superintendent, it makes a total difference.”

The board of trustees didn’t take any action on the planning committee’s recommended projects or bond at the Nov. 17 school board meeting. But the board members agreed with the sentiment that the district needs upgrades.

“In the past 10 years, our tax rate has gone down 41 cents — it’s almost like a sick experiment of us doing the most with the least,” Board President Maritza Venecia said. “I want to thank the principals, the teachers, the staff because you guys invented doing the most with the least. It’s not easy and we’re so grateful that you do it anyway. But I’m really excited to do more with the most, and I think that’s what this process is going to do.”