Five Days to Vote: What D11's $775M Bond Would Actually Fund in COS Schools
Colorado Springs School District 11's $775 million bond measure is on the November 3 ballot — five days away. The voting logistics have been covered: drop boxes are open, the postmark deadline is November 3. What this article is about is the substance — what the money would actually pay for in the schools where D11 families spend their days.
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Advertise hereWhat the Bond Would Fund
D11 is targeting three categories of need with the bond funds:
HVAC systems. Many of D11's school buildings are running heating and cooling systems that are decades old. In Colorado's climate — hot in August when the school year starts, cold by November — functional climate control is a basic condition for learning. Aging HVAC systems are also a significant source of poor indoor air quality, which directly affects student health and attendance. The bond would fund system replacements across the district's buildings.
Classroom modernization. D11 classrooms in many older buildings were designed for a different era of instruction. The bond addresses physical infrastructure that supports updated teaching approaches — flexible spaces, updated technology infrastructure, and renovations that allow schools to function as contemporary learning environments.
Library renovations. School libraries have become community hubs in many D11 buildings, and the bond would fund renovations to better support those functions.
The 20-Year Context
D11 hasn't passed a bond in 20 years. That's not an accident — it reflects a community that has repeatedly declined to take on new debt for the district. It also means that 20 years of deferred maintenance has accumulated in buildings where roughly 24,000 students attend school each day.
D11 is currently the only major Colorado Springs district carrying no bond debt. D20 and D49 have both passed bonds more recently and are carrying that debt. Whether D11's debt-free status is an advantage worth protecting or a sign of underinvestment is the central question voters are weighing.
Quick Reference
| Bond amount | $775 million |
|---|---|
| Ballot date | November 3, 2026 |
| Key uses | HVAC replacements, classroom modernization, library renovations |
| Last D11 bond passed | Approximately 2006 |
| Tax impact calculator | d11.org/bond |
What's Next
Ballots must be postmarked or dropped at an El Paso County drop box by November 3. The tax impact calculator at d11.org/bond can show you the estimated annual property tax increase based on your home's assessed value. If you still have questions about what specific schools in the district would see which improvements, D11 has published a project list on the bond website.
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