HILLSBORO, Ore. 鈥� At its regular session meeting on Tuesday, May 26, Hillsboro School Board members voted unanimously to place the Hillsboro School District鈥檚 (HSD) $430 capital construction bond on the November 2026 ballot.

The approved bond program听contains听projects for every school and district building across six broad project areas: buildings and systems, safety and security, Career and College Pathways, Extracurriculars, technology and cybersecurity, and support services.听

If successful in November, the bond would allow HSD to address aging infrastructure like roofs and HVAC systems, modernize educational settings that engage and prepare students, improve and expand extracurricular spaces like lighted turf fields for year-round student and community use, and enhance safety and security districtwide, among many other priorities.听听

Capital construction bonds like this one are the only mechanism school districts have for making significant investments in systems and structures. The State School Fund dollars听allocated听to districts each year are听really only听meant to fund daily operations (primarily staff-related costs) and incidental maintenance and repairs.听

By the fall of 2026, taxpayers will have paid off some of HSD鈥檚听previous听bonds. This creates an opportunity to fill in the gap with a new bond to generate capital investment money for district projects, while keeping the current tax rate consistent. HSD estimates a repayment rate of听approximately $1.84听per $1000 of assessed property value, which is 18 cents per thousand less than the听average of听rates paid since the passage of the district鈥檚听previous听bond in 2017.听听

Wherever possible, the district will seek opportunities to听leverage听partnerships, incentives, and grants to maximize our bond dollars and make them go further, highlighting HSD鈥檚 commitment to good stewardship of the community鈥檚 investment.听

In a 2019 bond,听the district invested heavily in safety and security upgrades at all schools, including听Seismic and roofing upgrades, Playground听upgrades听and Parent/bus drop-off improvements. The bond also supported extensive renovation and repair efforts at the district鈥檚 aging schools, focused on听HVAC,听plumbing听and electrical upgrades; remodeling projects; and the replacement of 15 temporary portable classrooms. Efforts to relieve crowded classrooms and plan for growth included the construction of separate gymnasiums at elementary schools that currently share gym and cafeteria space听as well as the expansion of Evergreen Middle School and Glencoe High School听and the construction of one new elementary school in North Plains, one new elementary school in South Hillsboro, and replacement of Brookwood Elementary School. The bond also extended to听new technology, flexible classroom听furniture听and the expansion of career and technical education spaces at all听district听high schools.听听

The district has implemented an听听of all proposed projects.听

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By Petra听Sucher听

SchoolBondFinder听specializes in tracking K-12 capital project bonds across the nation. The platform monitors school district bond initiatives across key stages, providing stakeholders with crucial data on project scope, financing, and voter outcomes. In March,听SchoolBondFinder听shared first-quarter updates and referendum insights for the 2025 and听2026 election听cycles.听

The research team is actively updating听the platform with the latest election results with a 鈥渂oots on the ground鈥� approach. Most updates for referendum votes are reflected within 24 to听72 hours听of听passage.听听

Read more for听an in-depth look at April and May results, highlighting essential insights for the 2026 K-12 bond market.听

An Overview of April Elections听

For听April听a majority of elections occurred on April 7.听Approximately听80%听of the bonds (120 out of 150) passed,听whereas听30听failed. The total value for both passed and failed bonds amounts to听$4B.听听Most听districts focused on infrastructure and safety. Missouri and Oklahoma were the most active states this month. Missouri had听64听bonds听and Oklahoma had听39听bonds.听听

Key Districts:听

Wayzata, Minn.听($450,000,000):听

• Scope:听New construction of a听public听elementary听school and a middle school,听as听well听as听classroom and lab additions at the high school,听kitchen听and cafeteria听expansions,听and gymnasium additions.听
• Status:听Passed听

Tulsa, Okla.听($276,000,000):听

• Scope:听Extensive renovations听to an existing public school,听including new classrooms, kitchens, ADA compliance upgrades, HVAC听systems听and roofing across multiple sites.听
• Status:听Passed听

Howard-Suamico, Wis.听(147,000,000)听

• Scope:听New classroom additions and gymnasiums at three elementary schools,听plus Career and Technical Education听labs and听performing-arts听spaces at the high school.听
• Status:听Passed

Dallas Independent School District Passes $6.2 Billion in Bonds 听

On May 2, voters approved听92听of听118听propositions for a passage rate of听78%, which is consistent with national trends. Many Texas school districts had multiple propositions on the ballot. In Texas 10 out of 26 failed, most having to do with athletic propositions.听

Dallas听Independent School District听passed听its听bond package worth听$6.2 billion, the听largest in Texas history.听Proposition A听will fund new construction to replace 26 schools and听expand听existing schools, adding classrooms to听eliminate听portables.听It will also听fund efforts to:听

• Renovate听and modernize every campus across the district听

• Remove the district鈥檚 700 remaining portable classrooms听

• Enhance safety and security at all campuses听

• Upgrade school furniture, student technology, and transportation, including new school buses听

• Improve physical education facilities and repair swimming pools听

The bond package听will be broken up into听four propositions to ensure transparency and flexibility. This bond package will leave a generational mark not just for the funding amount, but for the scope of the听project.听

Movement in Michigan,听Ohio听and Montana听

There were听79听propositions on the ballot for May 5, most in听Michigan, Ohio, and Montana with a mix of bonds and levies. For reference,听a school bond election is a bond issue used by a public school district, typically to finance a building project or other capital project. These measures are placed on the ballot by district school boards to be approved or defeated by the voting public or taxing authority.听A听levy is a short-term, local property tax passed by the voters of a school district that generates revenue for the district to fund programs and services that the state does not fund. Levies are used mostly for operational expenditures.听听

In total,听43听propositions with a value of听$2听billion听passed听on May 5,听whereas听36听propositions worth听$1.6听billion听failed. The number of bonds passed听represents听a passage rate of just 54%, lagging historic national trends.听听

A recent trend听observed听by听SchoolBondFinder听researchers this year involves districts requesting earned income tax levies to fund construction projects,听either by itself or combined with another funding source like a bond.听Researchers听typically see this for operating levies, but districts in the State of Ohio asking for this to accommodate their construction needs is new.听Districts may听attempt听to attract older voters by听utilizing听earned income tax levies, as these measures do not听impact听that demographic in the same way increasing property taxes do.听There were three earned income tax levies on the ballot this month in听Ohio听and all three failed.听

Other May Bond Decisions听

Voters considered听16听total propositions during this election cycle, resulting in听six听passing and听10听failing.听Bonds were approved in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Nebraska (2 districts),听Minnesota听and West Virginia. With most of the propositions focused on new construction.听

• Passed Amount: Totaling $498,285,000听
• Failed Amount: Totaling $342,648,950听

There听were听a total of听127听propositions that went to vote听on May 19. Of those,听113听passed for听a passage rate of听88%. The majority of those on the ballot occurred in New York.听A total of听94听bonds听passed, totaling over听$1听billion听in New York.听

Factors Influencing District Priority Shifts听

In addition to the well-known challenges of declining enrollment and district operational difficulties, several other factors are at play听school consolidations,听expiration听of Cares Act funding, voter resistance to specific measures听and a听downward trend in birth rates.听These changes suggest districts may be pivoting priorities to better serve local needs and moving away from projects fueled by federal programs.听听

Key Focus Areas for Passed Bonds听

Despite these challenges, passed bonds are still showing听strong support听for key focus areas, such as specialty areas,听HVAC systems, athletic facilities, instructional spaces, and electrical听and听lighting upgrades.

SchoolBondFinder听is听currently tracking roughly听$49听billion听of opportunities, with many of听the organization鈥檚听Watchlist items having no money attached yet.听Researchers听are tracking听more than听1,726听bonds as of May 22.听Elections听in June and August are around the corner and will be featured alongside听the听2026 Q2 updates and researcher insights听this summer.

Petra Sucher is the Marketing Engagement & Analytics Manager for .

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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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The renovation project transformed the building once known as the New Bodleian into a multimedia space with an exhibition hall, lecture theater, digital-ready classrooms, conservation and imaging workshops, office space, a café and reading rooms. The facility is made up of six aboveground stories with three underground stacks, reported , and was designed by London-based Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s librarian since 2014, told Harvard Magazine that the main goal of the project was to create “better interactions between manuscript archives, rare books and people.” As such, the library doesn’t look like a traditional library at first glance. Its large atrium greets visitors with the same grand statement that a museum would. A glass-walled circle of stacks floats above the entrance hall, and walls feature two 70-inch Samsung touch-screen displays.

The two exhibition galleries allow visitors to see some of the library’s historic archives, rather than hiding them from view as in the past. For instance, the Treasury will house university treasures such as the Magna Carta and Gutenberg Bible, on the First Folio on semi-permanent display, according to Harvard Magazine. The other exhibition gallery will house special exhibitions.

While visitors are able to interact with these exhibitions, there is a notable division between public and research spaces. Once allowed access, scholars can take advantage of the library’s new reading rooms that open up level by level. This section of the library also incorporates teaching spaces such as the lecture theater and five seminar rooms.

The renovation was partially funded with generous donations from a number of donors. The largest was about $37 million (£25 million) from the Garfield Weston Foundation — hence the name change to Weston Library — which was matched by Oxford University Press. Another about $7.5 million (£5 million) was gifted to the project by Julian Blackwell, president of Blackwell’s and whose Oxford store sits adjacent to the Weston Library site. This additional funding allowed the development of the Blackwell Hall, the library’s new entrance hall.

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