Bridgeport News Stories

Voters in Bridgeport ISD rejected the $211.6 million single-proposition bond proposal on Saturday, May 3, marking the fourth time in the past three years that proposals to improve safety/security and facilities did not receive voter approval. The last time BISD voters approved a bond election for school improvements was 16 years ago in 2009.

A total of 1,851 ballots were cast in the May 3 election. There were 1,020 total votes against the proposition, which represented 55% of the total votes cast, and 831 for the proposition or 45%. Early voting resulted in 731 or 54% of the voters against the proposed bond package and 621 or 46% for the proposal.

Wise County election results are unofficial until votes are canvassed by the Bridgeport ISD School Board on May 12.

“We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in this election,” said Superintendent Dr. Amy Ellis. “We remain incredibly proud of the work our facility planning committee, staff and community members have done over the past several years to shape strong proposals and help communicate our district’s facility needs.”

“This was our fourth attempt to address the real and growing challenges presented by aging buildings and infrastructure and lack of funding from the state,” Dr. Ellis added. “We will continue to do the very best we can with limited resources and rising costs. Despite this disappointment, our commitment to the students of Bridgeport ISD remains as strong as ever — and we stand firm in our belief that our students and staff deserve safe, up-to-date learning environments.”

After a May 2022 election where Bridgeport voters rejected a single-proposition bond proposal, the district launched an extensive Listen & Learn campaign. Feedback showed that voters did not support the covered athletic practice field project, wanted to vote on propositions separately and asked for a smaller overall bond amount with less impact for taxpayers. A new district committee formed to revise the proposal, but voters rejected all three separate propositions totaling $145 million in November 2023. Voters then rejected a smaller $26 million proposition for capital improvements and safety projects by just 90 votes in May 2024. The district and facility committee members decided to wait a year before bringing a new proposal before voters.

The $211.6 million project list in the most recent election would have built a new campus for Bridgeport High School, including CTE facility improvements for the growing Career & Technical Education programs, capital improvements districtwide such as flooring and roofing system upgrades and improvements to HVAC and interior finishes, as well as replacing up to 18 school buses and up to five SUVs in the aging district fleet.

Citizens and staff involved in the latest BISD Facility Planning Committee say they are disappointed that a majority of the district’s voters cannot find a facility proposal they can support. The district simply does not have enough funds in the maintenance and operations budget or the general fund balance to cover all the identified projects, which were originally identified as part of a facility study conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) in 2019.