At its June 8 regular and budget workshop meeting, the Willis ISD board of trustees reviewed a five-year timeline plan from the Willis ISD long-range planning committee, as well as the latest update to the district's budget from Willis ISD Chief Financial Officer Garrett Matej.
Sorting out details
The planning committee had been organizing the timeline since their first meeting Jan. 22. According to the district’s website, the purpose of the committee is to “guide facility, budget and program decisions that support the district’s long-term vision.”
The long-range planning committee timeline was presented to the board by the committee spokesperson, James Miller. Miller said that the committee focused on multiple district needs throughout its eight district meetings. These needs included technology, transportation, facilities assessments and fine arts.
The breakdown
The committee has recommended that the district use the fund balance and future bonds to finance 10 projects. The projects were selected based on needs and the length of completion within a five-year timeline. These projects include:
Facilities assessment projects
- Cost: $6.98 million
- Funding source: fund balance
- Timeline: 2026-28
Technology devices (Chromebook replacements)
- Cost: $2.8 million
- Funding source: fund balance
- Timeline: 2026-28
New practice pool for Willis High School
- Cost: $3.5 million
- Funding source: fund balance
- Timeline: 2026-28
Safety and security projects
- Cost: $2.14 million
- Funding source: TBD
- Timeline: 2027-2030
Roark EEC 12-classroom addition
- Cost: $10 million
- Funding source: bond
- Timeline: 2027-29
CTE center additions and updates
- Cost: $18.5 million
- Funding source: bond
- Timeline: 2027-29
Yates Stadium renovations
- Cost: $21.46 million
- Funding source: bond
- Timeline: 2027-2030
Willis High School tennis court additions
- Cost: $3.5 million
- Funding source: TBD
- Timeline: 2028-2030
New elementary No. 1
- Cost: $47 million
- Funding source: bond
- Timeline: 2028-2031
New elementary No. 2
- Cost: $47 million
- Funding source: bond
- Timeline: 2028-2031
The specifics
The total fund balance cost for the three proposed projects is $13.28 million, while the total bond cost for the confirmed five projects is $143.95 million. Miller said the two largest projects are the two newly proposed elementary schools, which both require a bond election to secure funding.
The purpose of the two new elementary schools is to address the aging facilities at Hardy and Parmley elementary schools, as well as to reduce the overcrowding at Cannan and Meador elementary schools. The student capacity of the two new elementary schools is expected to be 1,200, compared to Hardy and Parmley, which can only hold 600 students each.
Currently, the WISD student population is 9,540 students but is projected to grow to 15,044 students by the 2033-24 school year. As previously reported, WISD has built new administrative facilities to accommodate the rising student population, including Castleschouldt Elementary School, which is set to open Aug. 12.
The official approval of the timeline plan itself will be set at a later date, before the board's next bond committee meeting.
Also of note
Matej presented the monthly update for the district's budget. Matej reported that the district tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $1.0089, which is a reduction of $0.0260 compared to last year.
