In Montgomery ISD, the recommendations by its task force total $326.9 million split into three propositions. The committee's recommendations include funds for: construction of a seventh elementary school; a 900-student addition to Lake Creek High School; centralized career and technical education and agricultural science centers; land for future facilities; new school buses; new fine arts equipment; districtwide safety and security measures; renovations at the MISD Athletic Complex; and the design and initial planning work for a third junior high school, according to a Jan. 18 MISD release.
“The data and information presented to us made it abundantly clear that we need to responsibly plan for future growth in our school district,” said Shannan Reid, executive director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, in the release. “Additionally, our community has been vocal in its desire to enhance career and technical education offerings to students to ensure that after high school, every student in our district is well-prepared to step from the graduation stage directly into the college or career of their choice.”
Kris Lynn, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said in a Jan. 12 interview the recommendations include about $75 million for districtwide facility upgrades, $21 million for technology upgrades in all classrooms and funds for athletic renovations as well as comparability to update older campuses and facilities.
“When they were focused on facility upgrades, ... they wanted to make sure they touched every campus throughout the district,” Lynn said.
Lynn said town halls are slated for 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Montgomery High School and Feb. 2 at Lake Creek High School to inform the community before trustees vote in February. According to the release, trustees are anticipated to vote whether to call a bond election Feb. 15.
The task force—comprised of parents, staff, students, community members and business owners—met six times throughout the fall, following a demographic study and facility assessment completed in 2021 for the district, according to the release.
“Whether the individual committee member was a Lion or a Bear, each person was very intentional in wanting to ensure that this bond would touch every campus and support every student in Montgomery ISD," MISD parent MaryAnn Coleman said in the release.
“Growth in our district is here, and it’s very clear that more is coming,” board President Matt Fuller said in the release. “In our vision to be the premier school district in Texas, we must take the necessary steps to ensure that our campuses and facilities meet growth projections and can offer the best educational programs our students need, expect and deserve. The work of this task force committee was a critical step to mapping the future of Montgomery ISD, and I’m thankful for the many hours each of them devoted to developing their proposal."
According to the release, should voters approve a bond including all recommendations from the committee, MISD’s interest and sinking tax rate would increase by less than $0.01. The district's overall tax rate is $1.26 per $100 valuation.
Willis ISD
In Willis ISD, Superintendent Tim Harkrider said in January trustees are poised to vote Feb. 9 whether to call a bond election. Discussions are ongoing before the district committee presents its recommendation to the board in February.
WISD Director of Communications Jamie Fails also said the district is on track to complete several projects from its 2020 bond, including its Roark Early Education Center, which will begin registering students in March and open in August. Elementary gym additions and the Lynn Lucas Middle School expansion are anticipated to finish this summer as well.
