by carla gray
carla@themonitor.net

MABANK ‑On May 4, 2024, voters approved a $116 million school bond for Mabank Independent School District. After the bond passed, Interim Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall said it was “a great day in the land of the Panther.” He thanked voters for supporting the bond and said it was an important step for students and the Mabank ISD community. He also said he and the Board of Trustees would work to use taxpayer money wisely as construction moves forward.
One year later, on May 19, 2025, Mabank High School broke ground on the new Career and Technical Education Center, also called the CTE Center. The district also began junior high renovations. On Aug. 28, 2025, the district broke ground on a new elementary school for third and fourth grade students.
Two years after the bond election, Dr. Marshall and the Board of Trustees have kept their promise. On July 27, Dr. Marshall, school board trustees, and district principals toured the new third and fourth grade elementary building, the CTE Center and the intermediate school to check the progress. Mabank High School Principal Michael Rowland said the CTE Center is expected to open by January 2027. Mabank ISD Chief Financial Officer Scott Hyde said the third and fourth grade building will open at the start of the 2027-28 school year. Intermediate School project is expected to be completed by August 2027.
At the July 27 school board meeting, Hyde said the projects are ahead of schedule and under budget.