The Frisco ISD Bond Planning Committee began its work Tuesday with a message from Superintendent Dr. Todd Fouche: The potential 2027 bond proposal must reflect the community's priorities, not simply the District's requests.
“This process cannot be the District trying to sell somebody on Frisco ISD. This has to be the community saying, ‘This is what I want for Frisco ISD,’” he said. “These are our schools, our students and our community, and we have a responsibility to look out for the learning environments our students deserve.”
Over the next six weeks, the 98-member committee — larger than previous bond committees — will examine the District’s facility needs and consider priorities for a potential 2027 bond proposal.
Lessons from 2024
Learning from the 2024 bond program is an important part of the process. This summer, focus groups identified several potential factors in the proposal’s defeat, including its size and the timing of the election during a presidential election year.
Dr. Fouche confirmed that based on community feedback, the District was narrowing its approach for a potential 2027 bond.
Ahead of past bond committees, each department was asked what they wanted or needed to be successful for the next five years, and those wish lists were brought before the committee to consider. This year, only a few departments were solicited, with an emphasis on critical needs.
“This time, the scope will be smaller,” Dr. Fouche said. “You’re going to hear from transportation, maintenance and operations — we have really pared it down before we even started the conversation with you.”
Enrollment decline and campus consolidation
Kimberly Smith, deputy superintendent of business and operations, discussed how declining enrollment is shaping the District’s long-term planning.
Enrollment peaked at just over 67,000 students in March 2023 and stands now at nearly 62,000. Because school district revenue is tied to enrollment, the decline means the District must consider how to maintain its schools and services with fewer resources.
The discussion also addressed whether closing schools could help reduce costs.
District leaders explained that consolidation is part of the District's long-term sustainability planning, but those future decisions will consider more than enrollment alone. While some elementary schools have excess capacity, the District is also working to attract additional students through programs like Access Frisco and expanded pre-K.
In the meantime, the District remains responsible for maintaining schools that are serving students today, while ensuring future bond investments align with long-term facility needs.
Financial stewardship and communication
Alongside evaluating facility needs, committee members will consider costs and how Frisco ISD can responsibly manage that debt.
Smith reviewed Frisco ISD’s approach to responsible debt management. The District has the eighth-lowest interest and sinking tax rate among 39 school districts in Collin and Denton counties and has saved more than $152 million in future interest costs through debt refinancing over time.
Committee members will also consider how to make information about facility needs, finances and potential priorities easier for the community to access.
Nicole Lyons, chief communications officer, shared one step already underway: Adding a direct link to the Bond Planning webpage from the District homepage. The community can also expect regular updates regarding the bond planning process to be added to the Bond Planning webpage and included in all District communication channels.
As the committee prepares to meet in future weeks, a message from Board President Keith Maddox will be a guiding light for the work ahead.
“Together, we’ll continue to make Frisco ISD a place where excellence isn’t just expected — it’s sustained,” he said.
What’s next
Upcoming meetings will explore potential facility needs, financial guardrails and ways to help the community better understand the District’s needs.
Learn more about the Frisco ISD Bond Planning Committee and follow the process.
Resources
Transparency tools
Capital Projects table, updated October 2026: Category, Project, Amount Spent and Remaining Balance
Your Frisco ISD Taxes at Work: A dollar-by-dollar breakdown of where your taxes are going
Sustainability Plan
October 2026 update: Board workshop Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the FISD Administration Building, 5515 Ohio Drive, Frisco, TX 75035
June 2026 update: Expense cuts, new revenue and campus utilization. Article | Presentation | Video
January 2026 update: Cost savings and resource realignment. Article | Presentation | Video
October 2025 update: Demographics, facility planning and academic programs. Article | Presentation | Video
2025-26 debt refinancing
May 2026: $62.26 million refinanced | $24 million in future interest saved
August 2025: $209 million refinanced | $93.5 million in future interest saved
October 2025: $214.4 million refinanced | $34.7 million in future interest saved