Voters approve $135M BCISD bond package
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District administration. Staff photo by Caden Senn
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District voters narrowly approved a $135 million bond package on Election Day, May 2. With the passage of the bonds, BCISD staff will soon move to plan a timeline for major projects addressing key campus changes and maintenance throughout the district.
The two propositions, A and B, were decided by a close race, each passing by less than 150 votes according to the unofficial cumulative county results posted at 8:43 p.m. on May 2. The breakdown of the numbers according to those results are as follows.
Unofficial Bond Election Results
Proposition A: $133 million, for general facilities repairs, modernization, deferred maintenance, and land acquisition
- For – 913 votes, 51.35 percent
- Against – 865 votes, 48.65 percent
Proposition B: $2 million, for district-wide technology upgrades
- For – 955 votes, 53.95 percent
- Against – 815 votes, 46.05 percent
The full bond package includes plans for the full demolition and rebuilding of Burnet Middle School, classroom additions at RJ Richey Elementary, and various maintenance projects throughout the district. District officials said plans for those projects will move ahead immediately.
“With voter approval secured, Burnet CISD will move into the next phase of implementation, including detailed design, project sequencing, and construction timelines,” reads a BCISD press release about the bond’s approval.
BCISD Superintendent Dr. Aaron Peña shared his sentiments with voters in approving the bond, stating that its passage will undoubtedly be an investment in the future of the district.
“This outcome reflects the engagement of our community and their participation in this process,” Dr. Peña said. “We are grateful to every resident who contributed — whether through the planning committee, community meetings, or by casting a ballot. This investment will have a lasting impact on our students, our campuses, and the future of Burnet CISD.”
For more information about the bond program and next steps, visit the BCISD Bond 2026 webpage.
The bond breakdown
BCISD’s $135 million bond is split into Proposition A and B:
- Proposition A, $133 million, allows for funds to be used on general facilities, modernization, deferred maintenance, and land acquisition.
- Proposition B, $2 million, allows for funds to be used on district-wide technology upgrades.
Bond projects will be phased to allow for the least amount of academic disruptions during the school year. This phased approach is planned to include completing the new Burnet Middle School prior to deconstruction of the current campus.
Various maintenance projects and the design of the new Burnet Middle School are to begin immediately. The timeline for the new middle school is unknown, but is likely to be a multi-year project.
BCISD previously included an at-a-glance look at the planned projects in a press release for the bond. The projects listed are:
Burnet Middle School – Campus overhaul, new academic facility, and renovations
- New academic building and performance space designed for 900 students, with capacity to expand to 1,200 students in the future
- Classrooms and collaborative learning spaces
- Science labs and elective spaces
- Library/media center
- Cafeteria and kitchen
- Special education spaces
- Renovation of existing fine arts and athletics spaces
RJ Richey Elementary – Campus improvements
- Redesigned interior spaces to improve capacity and flow
- New academic classrooms built within existing cafeteria and courtyard space
- Conversion of interior gym into a cafetorium and kitchen
- Dedicated art and music rooms
- Right-sized special education spaces
- Increases student capacity to better match the district’s other elementary schools and delay the need for an additional new elementary campus
Deferred maintenance at campuses
- Roof replacement
- Electrical system upgrades
- HVAC replacements
- Replacement of selected interior finishes
- Building protection system upgrades
- Conversion to energy-efficient LED lighting
Bertram Elementary School
- New secure front entry to improve safety and controlled access
Districtwide needs and future planning
- Replacement of aging buses to support safe and reliable transportation
- Refresh of student technology devices used for instruction and assessments (Proposition B)
- Purchase of land for a future elementary school and a future middle school near Bertram
Previous reporting on the bond
- April 17 – Early voting on $135 million BCISD bond package begins April 20
- March 30 – BCISD to hold info meetings, campus tours for $135 million bond vote
- March 5 – Burnet leaders talk flood recovery, bond package
- Feb. 10 – $135 million BCISD bond package slated for May 2 election
- Feb. 3 – Final BCISD board meeting schedule before decision on bond package
- Jan. 22 – BCISD ponders $141 million infrastructure bond package