Voters approved New Caney ISD's $200 million bond referendum in an election on Saturday. With all Montgomery County precincts reporting, 53.38 percent of residents voted in favor of the bond issue, while 46.62 percent of residents voted against it.

In an interview with Community Impact Newspaper in March, district officials said the bond referendum is needed to address the district's growth. The district has nearly doubled in enrollment since 2007, when 8,671 students attended NCISD's schools. Now, the district has 15,046 students.

“It’s an exciting time in East Montgomery County as the community continues to grow and prosper,” NCISD Superintendent Kenn Franklin said in a press release Saturday. “We are excited to get started on these projects that will help the district accommodate this growth and provide students great learning environments and opportunities.”

The district plans to use $110 million of the funding to build a new high school off Sorters McClellen Road, which will be the district's third high school. Along with the new high school, the district will use $12 million to add 360 seats to Woodridge Forest Middle School, located at 4540 Woodridge Parkway, Porter.

The remaining funds will be used to replace two existing facilities and create more space at both schools. The district plans to use $52 million to replace, and add 450 seats, to Keefer Crossing Middle School—located at 20350 FM 1485, New Caney. The district also plans to use $26 million to replace, and add 180 seats, to Porter Elementary School, located at 22256 Ford Road, Porter.

This the fourth NCISD bond referendum voters have approved since 2007, with the previously three totaling $360 million. Funding from these previous bond elections was also used to open new schools to address the district's growth.

According to district officials, the approval of this bond referendum will not increase the district's property tax rate of $1.67 per $100 valuation.

In a statement the district released after the election results were final, Franklin thanked residents for their support, along with the individuals who worked on the committee that helped shape the bond.

“I would like to thank the community for its continued support of public education, our schools, and the students and staff of New Caney ISD,” Franklin said. “I would also like to thank the members of the long range planning committee whose work was an important contribution to the proposals in this referendum and the long-term direction of the school district.”

The election results are unofficial until canvassed.