During a special meeting Feb. 6, the New Caney ISD board of trustees unanimously approved the call for a May 5 bond election, said Scott Powers, NCISD executive director of public relations.

The district’s $200 million bond proposal includes four major projects: a third comprehensive high school, replacing Keefer Crossing Middle and Porter Elementary schools, and an addition to Woodridge Forest Middle School. The district’s property tax rate of $1.67 per $100 valuation will not affected by the bond issue, Powers said.

“[Calling a bond issue] has been on the surface for some time,” Powers said. “We went through a long-range planning process over the last year, and it ultimately led to the board’s decision to call for a bond this May.”

The 2018 bond issue is necessary to address the needs of the fast-growth school district, Powers said. More than 15,000 students are currently enrolled in NCISD, with enrollment increasing by approximately 5-6 percent per year and more than 30 percent over the last five years, Powers said. The district anticipates adding a capacity of approximately 2,340 seats with the four projects from the 2018 bond proposal.

The 2018 bond proposal comes three years after NCISD voters approved a $173 million bond in 2015. The 2015 bond issue funded two new elementary schools, a natatorium and an early-college high school campus as well as renovations to numerous other campuses across the district. Powers said all projects funded by the 2015 bond issue will be completed in the next 12-16 months.

For information on early voting and May 5 voting times and locations, visit www.newcaneyisd.org/elections.