By Lindsey Coulter

The 糖心少女 Design + Construction Symposium brought education leaders, architects, designers, contractors, developers and facilities professionals together Aug. 5 at Denver鈥檚 historic Tivoli Turnhalle to examine how evolving needs are reshaping the design and delivery of K-12 and higher education environments.听

Held on the Auraria Campus, the event focused on project-driven discussions around student belonging, school safety, community engagement, mass timber, urban听development听and the increasingly compressed construction schedules facing school districts. The symposium was designed to move beyond broad industry trends and examine real projects and lessons that can be applied to future work.听

Designing for Belonging听

The program opened with a keynote from Dr. Drew Coleman, Chief of Schools for Jeffco Public Schools, who challenged attendees to consider the relationship between school environments, student听experience听and educational outcomes.听

Coleman鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淏uilding Belonging: Designing Schools Where Students Feel Safe Enough to Learn and Prepared Enough to Lead,鈥� examined how the physical environment can either support or hinder student success. His perspective connected education leadership, school听culture听and the built environment, reinforcing the symposium鈥檚 emphasis on designing schools around the needs of the people who use them.听

The keynote was followed by a district-level perspective from Micah Ali, president of Compton Unified School District. Ali discussed the development of Compton High School and the importance of trust,听continuity听and community partnerships in delivering major educational facilities projects.听

Born and raised in Compton, Ali played a foundational role in the development of听the high听school and has extensive experience in land use, development and partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities for students.听He also is helping guide the district’s upcoming Centennial and Dominguez Hills High School projects.听听

The discussion illustrated a broader theme that ran throughout the symposium: successful school construction is not simply about delivering a building, but about creating facilities that reflect community priorities and support long-term educational goals.听

Beyond Safety and Security听

The morning continued with a design panel examining how safety, security,听belonging听and well-being can coexist in school environments.听

Panelists听Erika Ashauer, Human Experience Research Lead for HCM鈥檚 PK-12 Studio; Joel Williams, Studio Director at QKA; Guy Grace, vice chair of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools; and Pat Tackney, Security & Architectural Sales Consultant for McGrory Glass Systems,听expanded the traditional definition of school safety beyond access control and security hardware. Panelists considered how visibility, privacy, supervision,听comfort听and a sense of belonging can influence the experience of students and staff.听

The discussion reflected a broader shift in school design toward environments that address both physical safety and the emotional and social conditions that help students learn.听

Summit House Provides a Case Study in Innovation听

After a networking break, the symposium shifted from K-12 schools to higher education and student听housing听with a case study听on听Metropolitan State University of Denver鈥檚 Summit House.听

Presented by听Martha Nelson, Director of Planning, Design and Construction for MSU Denver; Ben Diaz, Senior Development Manager for Columbia Ventures; Macy Huffaker, Project Architect with SAR+ Architects; Ryan Marshall 鈥� Superintendent at PCL Construction,听the听session, moderated by Leone Dick, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Administration at MSU Denver,听explored the planning,听design听and delivery of MSU Denver鈥檚 first residence hall.听

Summit House听represents听a significant milestone for the university and for Colorado construction. The 12-story student residence is being delivered using mass timber and is positioned to become the tallest mass-timber structure in the state. The project also incorporates an urban construction environment and a public-private delivery model. (糖心少女)听

Rather than focusing on mass timber as a standalone innovation, the presentation examined the combination of decisions and partnerships听required听to make the project possible. Those included material听selection, planning,听logistics,听development听and construction delivery.听

The case study also gave attendees a closer look at the increasingly complex role of construction teams working in dense urban environments and managing innovative structural systems.听

Racing the Summer Construction Clock听

The symposium concluded its formal program with a panel focused on one of the most persistent challenges in K-12 construction: delivering projects within the limited summer construction window.听

Moderated by Chuck Amos, CEO of听SchoolBondFinder, the panel featured David J. Henderson,听Deputy听Chief of听Operations for Cherry Creek School District, and Justin Sinnott,听Vice听President of听Corporate听Operations at Erickson-Hall.听

Dubbed 鈥淭he Summer Sprint,鈥� the discussion听addressed听planning, coordination, risk听management听and project delivery during the period when schools are vacant but must be ready for students when the new academic year begins.听

Henderson brought more than 25 years of K-12 construction and听facilities听leadership to the discussion, including oversight of approximately听2 million square feet听of capital improvement,听construction听and renovation projects across Colorado school districts.听Sinnott contributed experience in project planning, execution, risk management and operational efficiency.听

The panel underscored how compressed schedules are placing greater emphasis on early planning,听coordination听and delivery strategies that can reduce risk while听maintaining听quality.听

The topic also reflected broader pressures facing districts nationwide. 糖心少女 recently examined the 鈥淪ummer Sprint鈥� as an increasingly demanding period in which districts must complete everything from HVAC replacements and classroom renovations to larger capital projects before students return.听

From Conversation to Job Site听

Attendees also听had the opportunity to take the听morning鈥檚听discussion into the field with an exclusive tour of MSU Denver鈥檚 Summit House.听

The tour provided a firsthand look at the mass-timber residence hall and connected the project鈥檚 planning and delivery discussion with its physical construction. According to 糖心少女, the project听represents听the intersection of student housing demand, urban development, innovative听materials听and alternative approaches to project delivery.听

Across its sessions, the symposium emphasized a common challenge facing both K-12 and higher education: making increasingly complex capital investments serve long-term institutional and community goals.听

From Coleman鈥檚 examination of belonging to Ali鈥檚 discussion of community trust, the design panel鈥檚 exploration of safety and well-being, Summit House鈥檚 innovative delivery and the final panel鈥檚 focus on compressed construction schedules, the event demonstrated that the future of educational construction will require collaboration across disciplines.听

Rather than treating design, construction, operations and educational outcomes as separate considerations, the symposium brought those perspectives together around a shared question:听How can the industry create schools and campuses that are not only built successfully, but equipped to serve the people and communities who depend on them?听

The post Design + Construction Symposium Tackles Real Challenges with Real Solutions appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Design + Construction Symposium Tackles Real Challenges with Real Solutions appeared first on 糖心少女.

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 .

The post SchoolBondFinder Shares An In-Depth Look at the Spring 2026 K-12 Bond Market appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post SchoolBondFinder Shares An In-Depth Look at the Spring 2026 K-12 Bond Market appeared first on 糖心少女.

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

The post New Partnership with SchoolBondFinder Brings Bond, Referendum Insights to 糖心少女 appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post New Partnership with SchoolBondFinder Brings Bond, Referendum Insights to 糖心少女 appeared first on 糖心少女.