A new elementary school and enhancements to existing campuses are at stake when voters weigh in on Willis ISD’s $109.5 million school bond referendum as part of the Nov. 3 election.

If approved, bond funds would be used to build an 800-student capacity elementary school campus at the southeast corner of MP Clark and League Line roads as well as pay for enhancements at existing campuses, district officials said.

Superintendent Tim Harkrider said the proposed elementary school would help the district manage projected student growth in the area because of incoming residential developments nearby.

“We started planning in October 2014, and we were looking at enrollment growth over the last few years and projected enrollment growth,” Harkrider said. “It basically came to a point where we were honestly due a bond with our normal growth, and then you take projected growth and the timing was right to get ahead of the growth.”

Existing facilities will also receive bond-funded enhancements, such as construction of a 500-student capacity Career and Technology Center, a 1,000-seat auditorium and an agricultural center at Willis High School.

“We are targeting students who are planning on going to college. But 40-45 percent of our students per year are not going to college, so we are offering some avenues where they can complete high school with a certification in different fields,” Harkrider said.

Brabham Middle School will also expand its capacity by 250 students and construct a track and four tennis courts. Bond funds would also be used to install field turf at Berton A. Yates Stadium as well as pickup and drop-off lane improvements at four campuses and land purchases for future schools.

“We have money designated for future land purchases,” Harkrider said. “We have sites for two elementary [school] campuses and one middle school campus. So we are in good shape there, but we don’t have a site for a second high school campus.”

According to the district, the bond would result in a maximum property tax increase of 6.75 cents per $100 of valuation, which will be implemented as the district sells its bonds. That would bring the total tax rate to $1.4575 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation.