A school bond is a voter-approved financing tool used to pay for long-term capital needs. School districts use bonds to fund major facility projects such as building repairs, renovations, additions, safety improvements, accessibility upgrades, major system replacements, and new construction.
Bond funds are different from operating funds. Bond funds are legally restricted to capital purposes and cannot be used for salaries, benefits, utilities, classroom supplies, or daily operating expenses, and would require independent citizens’ oversight. Upon the approval of a bond, the District would establish a bond oversight committee.

Bond funds could be used for eligible capital projects, including:

• Building repairs and renovations
• Major system replacements, such as HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and electrical systems
• Safety and security improvements
• Accessibility improvements
• Classroom and learning-space modernization
• Site improvements
• Technology infrastructure related to facilities
• Athletic, activity, and student-support spaces
• New construction or major additions where identified in the final project plan

Bond funds cannot legally pay salaries directly. However, by using bond dollars to address capital needs that the district currently has to cover from its operating budget, existing operating funds could be freed up to apply toward teacher pay.

D11 is Colorado Springs’ oldest school district and operates some of the city’s oldest school facilities. According to the district’s most recent facilities assessment, the average D11 school is 58 years old, and many campuses have not had a significant renovation in decades.

Common facility issues documented across D11 schools include lack of adequate heating, cooling, and air-filtration systems; aging roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems in buildings more than 60 years old; science, technology, and career-tech classrooms that have not been updated to reflect current standards; and hazardous building materials such as asbestos and lead pipes in some older school sites.

On August 5, 2026, the D11 Board of Education voted to place Ballot Question 4A, a $775 million bond measure, on the November 3, 2026 ballot to address these documented capital needs. Voters will now decide whether the measure is approved. 

D11 uses existing funds every year for maintenance, emergency repairs, and capital improvements. However, current annual capital funding is not enough to address the growing demand and scope of identified facility needs.

Research indicates that the physical condition of learning environments can affect student outcomes. Comfortable temperatures, clean air, good lighting, modern technology, and well-maintained spaces support attendance, focus, and achievement. Removing hazardous materials, replacing failing HVAC systems, and updating classrooms and labs are among the conditions the proposed measure would address.

The community is encouraged and welcome to submit questions through the district’s bond planning website, attend public meetings, contact district staff, or participate in school-level engagement opportunities.
The district will continue updating this website and FAQ based on common questions from the community.
 

School-specific project information is available on our project planning website