School Bond History of San Angelo

Editor’s note: In an earlier report touching on the history of San Angelo ISD bond elections, this reporter incorrectly calculated the total number of elections.

The correct figure is a total of 23 school bond elections, which significantly changes the average number of years between school bond elections. The correct figure, overall, is 5.3 years between school-bond elections from 1903 to 2025. The original report has been corrected.

The Concho Observer’s recent quest for local public-school history yielded a great deal of interesting data, key dates and interesting facts.

It also enabled us to produce the following list with the date and result of each school bond election since 1903.

1903-2025

(1) June 23, 1904: Vote on $20,000 school improvement bonds. Passed 68 to 5. The bonds were never acquired due to low (4%) interest rate, and had to be cancelled. A new election was held.

(2) Aug. 30, 1905: Bond issue of $25,000 at 5-percent interest. Passed.

(3) March 25, 1914: Bond issue of $80,000 for a new high school. Passed 453 to 186.

1920s

(4) June 24, 1922: Three school bond propositions are voted on in San Angelo totaling $25,000. Prop. 1 is a $10,000 for a new negro school which is passes by a vote of 155 to 86. Prop. 2 is a $10,000 for a new Mexican school, which passes 162 to 79. Prop. 3 is for $5,000 for repairs on other schools, which is approved by voters 172 to 65.

(5) July 31, 1923: $25,000 for school repairs approved by voters 147 to 46.

(6) March 13, 1926: Two school bond propositions of $250,000 each are voted on in San Angelo.

Prop. 1 to fund remodeling projects at five schools, with expansions at three of them, and a new ward school (Santa Rita). Voters approved 658 to 67. Prop. 2 will finance a new junior college, and was approved by voters 594 to 109.

(7) Feb. 27, 1928: A bond election for the issue of $350,000 is held to provide 16 new rooms for the junior high school, and a new elementary (Stephen F. Austin), which was approved 406 to 37.

1930s

(8) March 11, 1930: San Angelo voters approve $150,000 bond issue to pay for additions to ward schools and for a physical education unit at the high school. Passed 481 to 372.

(9) March 3, 1936: A school bond issue of $50,000 to address needs at the Negro school, and provide electric lights to all the schools is voted down 486 to 114. Of roughly 2,000 qualified voters, only 600 make it to the polls.

Post World War II

(10) April 16, 1946: A school bond election for $1,250,000 is called to finance remodeling of the junior high and several elementary schools, and the construction of a new junior high building. Voters approved 461 to 71.

(11) Dec. 9, 1950: Voters overwhelmingly approve $1,500,000 in bonds for general school district expansion and modernization by a vote of 1,042 to 160.

(12) May 22, 1954: SAISD officials announce long-range plan for schools and call for a bond election authorizing $4.5 million to fund the program, which includes a new high school. Voters approve the measure 2,055 to 742.

1960s

(13) April 7, 1962: Voters rejected a $2,795,000 bond proposal by a 2-to-1 margin. Funds were going to build two new schools, make additions to seven others and provide a $100,000 fund for improving heating, lighting and plumbing facilities at older schools. The bond failed 4,617 to 2,084.

(14) May 18, 1963: A bond election for the issue of $400,000 is called to finance six new classrooms and a library at Travis and Belaire elementary schools, two classrooms at Glenmore, one at Hammond and a vocational arts building at Central High. Voters approved 1,059 to 217.

(15) April 2, 1966: SAISD officials call an election for a $2,960,000 bond issue to provide two new elementary schools, a new junior high school, and additions to Central High School: voters approved 4,477 to 2,095.

(16) May 18, 1968: A school bond election for $1.95 million is called to address the needs of Lake View’s schools. It will finance the purchase of a new site for Lake View High School along with its construction, and provide for other school remodeling projects. San Angelo voters approved the bond 2,516 to 770.

1970s

(17) March 2, 1976: San Angelo voters approved the $6.9 million bond issue for school improvements 3,883 to 1,538 — 78-percent in favor.

1985

(18) Feb. 2, 1985: San Angelo voters approved $6.8 million school bond proposalby majority of more than 2 to 1, favoring the bonds 2,488 to 1,016.

An anticipated student increase of 2,400 by 1987, and new state mandates about class sizes, make a new elementary school necessary, officials say.

The funds will provide for one new elementary school, additional classrooms at six other elementary schools, and Lake View High School, among other projects.

1990s

In October of 1990, district trustees say they need another new elementary school and a junior high, but they are worried about the timing, citing economic forces.

(19) May 18, 1996: Prop. 1 for $23,900,000 funding expansions, renovations and improvements, with 100 new classrooms at 11 campuses, new band and vocational facilities, and interior remodeling, along with electrical and technological upgrades. Voters approved 4,986 to 2,660.

Prop. 2 for $24,000,000 funding the new Lamar Elementary in Southwest San Angelo and a new Lincoln Junior High, along with multi-purpose buildings at each elementary.
approved 6,143 to 1,514.

2000s

In the year 2000, the new Lincoln Jr High was completed, and the newly-rebuilt Lake View High School opened the following year.

(20) May 12, 2007: SAISD sets a $130 million bond election for May 12, split between two proposals.

Prop. 1 is for $106 million for work on the two high schools, with $100 million earmarked for a new Central High.

Prop. 2 is for $24 million for two new elementary schools. One new school for 600 students would be built at the Bradford Campus to combine that school’s attendance with Holiman Elementary, and Crockett Elementary would get a new building at a different site.

Prop. 1 fails with 62 percent voting against: 6,332 to 3,781.

Prop. 2 fails with 61 percent voting against: 6,160 to 3,935

(21) Nov. 4, 2008: Trustees tried again to raise the money they needed for schools; this time they are seeking $149 million to fund work at eight elementary schools, both high schools and one middle school with two propositions.

Prop. 1 is for $117,000,000 which will fund:

Approximately $71.5 million for renovations, repairs, upgrades, ADA compliance and other site improvements at 11 campuses.

Approximately $45.5 million for new construction of classrooms and science labs.

Work will be done at Bradford, Crockett, Holiman, Glenmore, Goliad, Santa Rita, San Jacinto, Lee Middle School, and both high schools.

Prop. 2 is for $32 million for Central High projects including a new competition gymnasium/cafeteria and renovate extracurricular buildings including the Natatorium and Lou Gehrig & Didrickson gyms.

Proposition 1 must pass in order for Proposition 2 to be approved.

Voters were split on Nov. 4.

Prop. 1 passed with 52.15 percent of the vote: 15,107 to 13,859.

Prop. 2 narrowly fails 14,680 to 14,104.

(22) Nov., 6, 2018: Two Propositions: Prop. 1 is for $111,480,000 to fund construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school buildings. Voted down 707 to 526.

Prop. 2 $34,000,000 for construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school buildings, including extracurricular, fine arts and athletic facilities defeated 15,026 to 11,079.

(23) May 3, 2025: After a 17-year funding drought San Angelo ISD calls for a single-proposal bond election for $397 million to cover extensive deferred maintenance throughout the district, and fund a new Glenn Junior High.

Voters approved the measure (unofficially) by 5,604 to 4,715, or 54.3 percent of the vote.