• Southbury and Middlebury voters backed Region 15鈥檚 $95.6 million 2026-27 operating budget at the May 6 referendum, according to posted unofficial results.听
• Voters also approved $224 million in bonding to replace听Gainfield听and Pomperaug elementary schools; the bond question passed overall even though Middlebury voters opposed it locally.听
• District materials say the plan is to build new PK鈥�5 schools on the existing sites, keep students in their current buildings until the replacements are ready, and add dedicated preschool space while upgrading safety,听accessibility听and traffic circulation.听

SOUTHBURY, MIDDLEBURY, Conn. 鈥� Voters in Southbury and Middlebury approved Region 15鈥檚 $95.6 million operating budget for fiscal 2026-27 and authorized $224 million in school construction bonding to replace the district鈥檚 two oldest elementary buildings, according to referendum results released after the May 6 vote.听听

The bond would support replacement buildings for听Gainfield听Elementary School and Pomperaug Elementary School, with the district planning to pursue state school construction grants that could significantly reduce the local share of eligible project costs.听

Unofficial results posted by the Town of Southbury show the Region 15 school budget passed 2,679-1,618 overall (Southbury: 2,048-1,059; Middlebury: 631-559). The construction financing question passed 2,474-1,820 overall, with Southbury approving 1,935-1,172 and Middlebury voting against the question 539-648, according to听.听

The Stamford Advocate reported the adopted budget totals $95.6 million, a $4.86 million (5.4%) increase over the current $90.78 million plan. The same report said the $224 million bond package would fund replacement schools on each existing site, with plans calling for larger buildings designed to serve about 550 students per school and include prekindergarten space, according to听.听

District project materials describe听Gainfield鈥檚听original sections as dating to 1941 and Pomperaug opening in 1967, noting both facilities have aging infrastructure and systems nearing the end of their useful life. 鈥渕any听of our systems and spaces are significantly aged, flawed, functioning unreliably, or听become听obsolete,鈥� according to听.听

Region 15鈥檚 facilities materials say new construction 鈥� rather than renovation 鈥� was selected after feasibility work evaluated both approaches. The FAQ says early estimates compared roughly $80 million for renovation to about $86 million for new construction, but renovation would add significant costs and complications, including temporary swing space estimated at about $12 million and a longer timeline that could increase escalation costs, according to .听听

On design and operations, the district says replacement buildings would address code and safety upgrades that older schools are exempt from because of their听age, and听improve circulation and traffic safety. The 鈥淜ey Project 糖心少女鈥� page says the new layouts would funnel visitors from the main entrance to the front office for screening and bring the schools up to current fire and energy codes (including sprinklers and updated HVAC), while expanding parking and dedicated bus lanes, according to听.听

Project scope materials also cite improved traffic circulation at both campuses, including altered traffic patterns and a new access road intended to reduce congestion near Main Street and Poverty Road in Southbury. Region 15 further says the proposal is designed to keep schools听operating听throughout construction by allowing the district to occupy the existing buildings until the new schools are complete and ready for occupancy, according to听.听

Programming elements highlighted by the district include adding dedicated preschool classrooms and replacing makeshift instructional spaces (such as interventions held in closets or hallways) with purpose-built rooms and small-group areas, according to听.听

In its March 30 Board of Education newsletter, Region 15 said it sought voter approval in May to听submit听a school construction grant application by the state鈥檚 June 30 deadline. The newsletter also estimated total construction costs at about $224 million and听anticipated听roughly 64.2%听reimbursement of eligible costs under current assumptions, with a projected $80 million to $90 million local borrowing need, according to听.听

Before the May 6 vote, Region 15 said the Connecticut General Assembly approved a space waiver intended to support the district鈥檚 eligibility for its expected reimbursement rate while allowing some flexibility in shared spaces. 鈥淭his legislation allows us to thoughtfully plan school spaces that meet student needs while also providing areas that can serve the wider community,鈥� according to听.听

As the district moves toward a state funding application, Superintendent Joshua Smith described near-term steps, including governance and procurement work. 鈥淲e will also begin the work of identifying building committees, grant application approvals and releasing a request for project proposals that will select an architectural firm for the design phase of the project,鈥� according to听.听

The Stamford Advocate reported Smith hopes construction will begin in 2028 and that the new schools could be completed by 2030, subject to听state听grant approvals and other preconstruction steps, according to听.听

This article is based on reporting originally published by the Stamford Advocate, official materials posted by the Town of Southbury and Pomperaug Regional School District 15, and Region 15鈥檚 facilities project website in 2026. ()听

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As school districts nationwide grapple with aging infrastructure, evolving educational models and heightened community expectations, K-12 bond measures have become a critical mechanism for funding transformation. Beyond simple capital campaigns, these referendums reflect shifting priorities around safety,听flexibility听and long-term facility performance.听听

Recognizing the critical value of connecting readers with bond- and referendum-related insights, 糖心少女 is proud to announce a new partnership with听听that will bring听SchoolBondFinder鈥檚听expertise听and capital project bond insights to 糖心少女 readers.听SchoolBondFinder听provides a data-driven lens into how districts are planning,听proposing听and delivering projects鈥攐ffering听stakeholders听a clearer view of where investment is occurring and how those decisions are shaping the future of learning environments.听

The School Bond Finder K-12 Bond Platform听听

SchoolBondFinder听specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation. Our platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes.听

• Watch List:听Districts may be added to this list following initial activities such as a facilities study, demographic study, capital improvement plans review, or a feasibility survey.听
• Proposed List: A bond is moved to this list once a school board officially approves a referendum for a vote.听At this point, the vote date, official ballot language, use, and amount are听finalized.听
• Passed/Failed List:听Updates on school bond referendum votes鈥攂oth听passed听and听failed鈥攁re typically available on our platform within 24 to听72 hours听of the official results being released.听

A Recap of 2025 Bonds听

As the first quarter of 2026 wraps听up听it is important to look back at 2025 for reference. In 2025听SchoolBondFinder听tracked听$91听Billion worth of bonds. Approximately听$69.2听billion听passed,听whereas听$22.7听billion听failed. The overall passage rate for 2025 was听75%, which aligns with the trend听observed听over the last few years. Our research team tracks school bond activity nationwide, with the highest total bond amounts recorded in Texas ($18.4 billion), California ($6.1 billion), Ohio ($3.5 billion), Washington ($3.4 billion), and Pennsylvania ($3.0 billion) in 2025.听

Historic Trends听

The chart below illustrates spending amounts for both passed and failed referendums over the past eight years. Election years typically show an increase in both the number and total value of bonds proposed, a听trend often attributed to higher voter turnout during presidential elections, which can improve referendum passage rates.听

An eight-year longitudinal analysis (2018鈥�2025) highlights consistent trends in K-12 bond funding, offering insight into evolving educational priorities. During this period, bond measures most听frequently听supported the following project areas:听

• Speciality听Areas听听
• Instructional Areas听
• Athletic Facilities听
• HVAC听SystemsElectrical听and Lighting Upgrades听
• Electrical / Lighting Upgrades听

Given that most instructional buildings were built before the 1970s, it is no surprise that infrastructure upgrades are a top priority for school districts. Capital improvements continue to be focused on modernizing student learning environments. These spaces include classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and specialized facilities. The goal is student-centered learning, achieved through flexible environments that incorporate mobile furniture, integrated technology, and versatile layouts.听

2026 Year to Date – First Quarter听

As of March 2026, approximately听$6听billion听in K鈥�12 bonds have been approved.听Roughly听267听bond measures were tracked in the first quarter, resulting in a听70%听passage rate. Approved bonds were concentrated primarily in specialty areas (ie听cafeterias, sensory rooms, admin spaces), HVAC systems, and instructional spaces. The top three states (WA, KS, and IL) account for about听66%听of the total bond amount passed in Q1.听听

2026 Bond Priorities听

The听SchoolBondFinder听database is currently tracking a total of听1,478听bonds scheduled for 2026 and beyond, as of March. Approximately听117听bonds are scheduled to go to vote throughout听the month of April, with more elections scheduled in May and June. The combined Proposed and Watch List bonds听represent听approximately听$56 billion听in potential opportunity.听听

K-12 School bonds are currently prioritizing construction, capital improvements, technology upgrades, and security enhancements. Many districts are听seeking听smaller, more targeted amounts for referendums, which may be more appealing to taxpayers and could be a more achievable strategy compared to large, multimillion-dollar bonds.听

• Facility Longevity and Maintenance: There is a growing focus on facility longevity and maintenance over expansion. Renovation and repair projects are the most frequent, while new construction and major system/envelope upgrades听represent听higher-value contracts.听
• Student-Centric Modernization:听A significant portion听of bond funding targets modernization and expansion of areas directly听impacting听student learning and extracurricular activities. This includes projects focused on flexible learning spaces, modern classrooms, and auditorium renovations, showing a high demand for multi-purpose furniture solutions.听
• Infrastructure and Safety: Basic infrastructure听remains听a consistent priority. Projects related to safety/security and system/building envelope upgrades, such as HVAC replacement, roof repairs, and听security听show a commitment to the health, safety, and long-term goals of school facilities.听

More Info and Insights to Come听

Looking ahead, the trajectory of K-12 bond funding听suggests a more strategic, targeted approach to capital investment鈥攐ne that balances fiscal realities with the urgent need to modernize facilities. As districts continue to prioritize infrastructure resilience, student-centered design and operational efficiency, access to听timely, reliable data will remain essential. Platforms like听SchoolBondFinder听are critical resources for A/E/C stakeholders,听providing听the in-depth insights necessary for better decision-making and efficient听utilization听of K-12 funding opportunities.听

Watch for quarterly insights from听SchoolBondFinder听to learn more about upcoming opportunities.听

Petra Sucher is the Marketing Engagement & Analytics Manager with听.听

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SACRAMENTO鈥擣ollowing a statewide measure on March鈥檚 primary ballot, California voters have rejected a $15 billion bond to renovate the state鈥檚 aging schools.

According to a report by , Prop 13 promised to provide funds for new construction and repairs at campuses dealing with problems like leaky roofs, old wiring and toxic mold. It needed a simple majority to pass. But the 鈥渘o鈥� votes had a comfortable lead immediately after the March 3 election and only tightened slightly as several million additional ballots were counted.

According a statement from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst鈥檚 Office, 鈥淥pponents said California has a large budget surplus and shouldn鈥檛 borrow more money. Taxpayers would have owed an estimated $11 billion in interest over the next 35 years as a result of Prop. 13.鈥�

Republican state Sen. Brian Jones said voters 鈥渞ightly wondered why the state was trying to pass more bonds and hike taxes rather than using those budget surpluses to help schools?鈥�

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association led the opposition, which took particular issue with a provision that would have increased the limit on what a local school district could borrow, from 1.25% to 2% of assessed property value. The group feared that could have led to future tax increases to pay back the debt and said that the state should fund school facilities itself rather than adding to school districts鈥� debt.

California Governor Gavin Newsom鈥攁 supporter of this proposition鈥� argued that the need for school repairs was crucial. The proposal was backed by teachers and firefighter unions, school boards and Democratic state lawmakers.

According to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California, 70% of California鈥檚 10,000 public schools are 25 years or older, with 10% of them at least 70 years old.

Approximately $9 billion from the measure would have gone to K-12 schools, with priority given to addressing health and safety concerns such as removing asbestos and eliminating lead from drinking water.

Of that, $5.8 billion would have went toward improving school facilities; $2.8 billion for new construction; and $500 million each for charter schools and facilities for technical education.

According to local media, this proposition also would have allocated $6 billion for higher education, which last benefited from a statewide bond measure in 2006. The funding would have been split evenly, with $2 billion each for community colleges, the California State University system and the University of California system.

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“Rhode Island College is proud to be part of this historic collaboration between the public and private sectors,” Rhode Island College President Dr. Nancy Carriuolo said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “…The Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, will help our state grow the educated workforce it needs to meet the changing needs of its number-one industry sector: health care."

The project will renovate and repurpose the vacant and abandoned South Street Power Station on Providence’s Eddy Street. This point in particular inspired Mayor Angel Taveras to refer to the project as a “transformational moment” for the state’s economy, according to the . The project is also expected to create up to 500 new construction jobs, as well nearly 400 indirect jobs, generating a potential $5 million in new tax revenue.

The Nursing Education Center is also expected to advance Rhode Island’s role as a regional leader in health care and nursing education. In addition to establishing new classrooms and related office space, the project will include extensive improvements to the site’s existing power plant as well as the construction of a new six-story graduate student housing facility, a new 650-space parking structure and various landscaping and site improvements.

An agreement reached by the three institutions in early 2014 will divide the roughly 265,000-square-foot complex in half, with one portion reserved for Brown University offices and the other dedicated to learning and teaching spaces for the other two institutions. The project currently aims for a mid 2016 completion.

“Reaching this important milestone in this highly complex project has required the commitment and tenacity of our private and public sector partners,” said Brown President Christina Paxson, in a statement. “Today, we set the stage to transform a staggering liability into a gleaming asset, providing opportunities for meaningful academic connections that will have lasting benefits for our institutions, our city, and our state.”

“The Nursing Education Center will certainly play a role in the economic recovery of our state,” added Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. “The training that our future nurses and health care professionals will receive at this first-class facility will open the door for good-paying job opportunities. I am so pleased that the state has made this investment in support of three great institutions of Brown, URI and RIC to make this groundbreaking possible.”

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