“As board of trustees, we had many thoughtful and deliberate discussions this year in response to what the community feels is needed to continue excellence in Tomball,” said Matt Schiel, president of the board of trustees, in an Aug. 12 news release.
The total tax rate will remain flat; the bond referendum will not affect the total rate, according to the release.
The bond will be split into five ballot propositions. Proposition A, the largest of the five and totaling $466.4 million, would fund one high school, one middle school, two elementary schools and the purchase of the former headquarters of BJ Services.
The board approved the purchase of the campus, former home to the oil service company which filed for bankruptcy in July 2020, for $39.5 million unanimously at the meeting. The campus is located at FM 2920 and Hufsmith-Kohrville Road.
“We got a great purchase price on that facility,” Trustee John McStravick said at the meeting.
Proposition A would also pay for renovations associated with the former BJ Services campus, new buses, renovations at Tomball High School and Tomball Junior High School, cybersecurity improvements and a water treatment plant, according to district information.
Proposition B totals $27.8 million for technology improvements, including student Chromebook and staff device refreshes. According to district information, Proposition C includes $8.1 million for athletic improvements. Proposition D includes $17.2 million for a third natatorium, and Proposition E funds three new multi-use facilities, one for each high school, totaling $47.8 million.
TISD is enrolling 1,678 new students this semester, Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said during the meeting. The bond referendum is intended to address anticipated enrollment growth across the district as several campuses are projected to approach or exceed capacity over the next five years, according to district information.
In addition to the bond referendum announcement Aug. 12, TISD recently remarketed its bonds sales and will save about $2.66 million over the next three years, according to a separate Aug. 12 news release.
“Tomball ISD benefits significantly from this remarketing,” Chief Financial Officer Jim Ross said in the release. “These savings give us more capacity for any future bond sales.”
Voters approved TISD’s last bond in November 2017, which totaled $275 million and funded the construction of the Tomball ISD Stadium, Grand Lakes Junior High School and Grand Oak Elementary school, among other projects, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
