D11 Bond Vote Is August 5 — What COS Families Should Know Before the Board Decides

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education votes August 5 on whether to place a $775 million bond measure on the November 2026 ballot. That vote is four days away, and for families across central Colorado Springs, it is one of the more consequential school governance decisions in more than two decades.

The last bond D11 brought to voters passed in 2004. The buildings that bond was meant to address are now 22 years older. Many of them are 50 to 100 years old, and a significant number still lack air conditioning.

What It Would Cost

If the D11 board votes yes on August 5 and voters subsequently approve the measure in November, the estimated tax impact is approximately $6.50 more per month for a property owner with $100,000 of assessed property value. Property owners with higher assessed values would pay proportionally more. The district's bond FAQ at d11.org/bond/faq contains additional detail on the methodology and projections.

Jenkins Middle School: A Window Into the Facilities Problem

While the bond addresses a district-wide infrastructure challenge, one school's recent history makes the stakes concrete. Jenkins Middle School has been closed for roughly 18 months due to structural failures — cracking and separating floors and walls that made the building unsafe for students.

During that closure, 6th and 7th graders attended class in portable buildings set up in the school's parking lot. 8th graders were relocated entirely to Doherty High School. Jenkins is expected to reopen for students this fall, but the closure illustrated what aging D11 facilities look like when they reach a breaking point.

Jenkins is not the only D11 school with aging infrastructure. It is simply the most visible recent example. The bond would address preventive investment across the district before other buildings reach the same threshold.

What's Next

The D11 Board of Education meets August 5 to vote on whether to place the bond on the November 2026 ballot. If the board votes yes, voters will have the final say in November. Families who want to understand the full proposal before the vote can review the bond FAQ and board meeting schedule at d11.org.

D11's first day of school is August 12 — one week after the bond vote. The school year beginning with a major infrastructure decision in the background makes August 5 a date worth marking for any family with students in the district.