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2026 Bond Election

Election Day: Saturday May 2nd, 2026                                     Early Voting: April 20th to April 28th, 2026

Monday, Feb 9, 2026

Iola ISD Announces May 2026 Bond Election Focused on New High School

Iola Independent School District has announced that its Board of Trustees voted in October to call a bond election for Saturday, May 2, 2026, following an extensive facilities planning and community input process. The proposed bond would fund the construction of a new Iola High School, including dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, with a total proposed amount of approximately $59.3 million. 

Superintendent Jeff Dyer emphasized that the decision was the result of months of careful study and community engagement. 

“This was a thorough and transparent process,” said Dyer. “We gathered feedback from  our community, reviewed the condition of our facilities, and evaluated long-term needs to ensure the Board could make an informed decision and give voters the opportunity to weigh in.”

Community- Driven Planning Process 

As part of the planning effort, the district conducted a communitywide survey, completed by 392 community members, to gather feedback on facility needs and long-term priorities.

In addition, Iola ISD convened a Community Facilities Committee made up of parents, district staff, business owners, and community members. Over the summer, committee members volunteered their time to:

  • Tour district facilities
  • Review financial information
  • Evaluate renovation and new construction options

Their findings and recommendations were presented to the Board of Trustees and played a key role in shaping the proposal.

Bond Proposal Overview 

The May 2026 bond proposal focuses on one primary project:

  • Construction of a new Iola High School, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces

If approved, the project is intended to address current operational considerations at the high school and support academic instruction, workforce preparation, and future program growth.

Career & Technical Education Focus 

The proposed new high school would include dedicated spaces for Career and Technical Education, designed to support hands-on learning and career-focused instruction aligned with current educational standards. These spaces are intended to allow flexibility for future expansion of CTE programs as student interests and workforce evolve.

Learning Environment and Long-Term Planning 

District leaders noted that the proposal takes a more comprehensive look at the high school campus compared to the 2021 bond election, which primarily focused on adding classrooms and a gym.

This proposal considers:

  • Updated classrooms and shared learning spaces
  • Modern infrastructure to support instruction
  • Long-term enrollment growth as new families move into the district

Together, these factors helped guide the Board’s decision to place the bond on the ballot.

Financial Information 

If approved by voters, the estimated tax rate impact would be $0.3098.

To help community members understand how the proposed bond may affect them, Iola ISD has provided an online tax calculator where homeowners can enter their property value and view an estimated projected tax impact based on the proposed Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate.

Additional bond information and the tax calculator will be are available at:
www.IolaISDBond.com 

Important Election Dates 

  • Early Voting: Monday, April 20 – Tuesday, April 28, 2026
  • Election Day: Saturday, May 2, 2026

This information is provided to share factual details about the proposed bond election and the planning process behind it. For official election information, including voting locations, visit www.IolaISDBond.com