Nov. 4 was a big day for Katy ISD. After nearly a year of extensive work putting together a new school bond, Katy area residents approved the $748 million proposal slated to add six news schools, upgrade and renovate a slew of campuses and add a second stadium to the district.



District officials said the expansion and addition of facilities is needed because of the steady increase in enrollment that exceeded 70,000 students this school year.



"Katy voters understand how fast this community has been growing, and this trend will continue for at least the next 10 years," Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey said shortly after the bond was approved. "With the passage of this bond, we are ensuring that all 3,000 new



students coming into our district every year receive the same educational opportunities our current students have in the classroom."



The school board has already approved plans for four of the six new schools and has selected the architect to design and build a fifth facility.



PBK Architects will be charged with the project for KISD's eighth high school and 15th junior high—a pair of buildings that will be constructed on a joint secondary campus at the intersection of Stockdick School and Peek roads. The schools are scheduled to open for the 2017–18 school year.



VLK Architects will build two elementary schools—the 38th and 39th such schools in KISD.



Elementary School No. 38 will be built at the intersection of Horizon Bluff and Westridge Creek lanes, and Elementary School No. 39 will be built on East Ventana Parkway, southwest of the new high school and junior high school site.



Both elementary schools are scheduled to open for the start of the 2016–17 school year.



Drymalla Construction Co. will build the district's 14th junior high within the Hawks Landing subdivision on Hawks Prairie Boulevard. The school is scheduled to open for the start of the 2016–17 school year.



An architect for a third new elementary school has yet to be determined.



KISD officials said the rezoning of school attendance zones will take place ahead of opening day at the elementary schools.