Two Tomball ISD propositions totaling about $494.5 million are on track to pass while three more propositions regarding athletics improvements are likely to fail, with 700 of 704 voting centers reporting results in Harris County and all precincts reporting results in Montgomery County.
The propositions likely to be approved include funding for four new schools, renovations to a former corporate campus, facility renovations, new buses, the relocation of Tomball Star and Early Excellence academies, and district technology upgrades.
Tomball ISD voters weighed in on a $567.5 million bond package Nov. 2, which included four new schools, three multipurpose buildings and renovations associated with acquiring a former corporate campus. Unofficial election results for Harris and Montgomery counties show three of the district's propositions—for athletic upgrades, a natatorium for the district's third comprehensive high school and three multiuse facilities—were not supported by voters.
The largest bond the school district has ever called, the package is divided into five propositions—Proposition A-E—following a change in state law requiring school districts to separate special projects, such as a natatorium or athletics facilities, from educational improvements, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. Voters could weigh in on each of the five propositions.
"We do believe propositions A and B will pass for Tomball ISD, and that's about $495 million. We do not believe propositions C, D and E will pass. So basically—all for growth and technology but not the athletic portion of the bond," Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said in a phone call to Community Impact Newspaper late Nov. 2 following the release of early voting results in Harris County and full tallies from Montgomery County.
Proposition A totals $466.64 million to fund new schools, including a third high school, an intermediate school and two elementary schools as well as renovations to the Tomball ISD Innovation Center—formerly the headquarters of BJ Services on FM 2920—campus renovations, security upgrades, and other facility and district improvements. Unofficial results show 57.78% of voters casting a ballot supported Proposition A out of 7,430 votes cast in Harris and Montgomery counties.
Proposition B, which totals $27.8 million, includes technology improvements in the district. According to unofficial results, 4,285 voters, or 57.95% of voters, supported Proposition B.
Proposition C totaling $8.1 million calls for athletic upgrades. Unofficial results show the proposition is not on track to be approved with 48.15% of votes in support of the proposition and 51.85% of voters opposing the proposition.
Proposition D, which totals $17.2 million, includes funds for a natatorium to be added alongside the district's proposed high school near Juergen Road. This proposition saw the greatest amount of opposition with only 46.99% of voters supporting Proposition D. According to unofficial results, 53.01% of ballots were cast against the proposition.
Finally, Proposition E totals $47.8 million and includes funds for three multiuse facilities for fine arts and athletics teams. Unofficial results show 51.87% of voters opposed the proposition.
"Although it does make me sad that we weren't able to see everything pass, I am so grateful to the voters of Tomball ISD, because with an 8.5% fast growth [rate] just this year alone, we continue to see an increase in students and need additional schools, and so I am happy," Salazar-Zamora said. "It is not the full outcome that we wanted; it is certainly the outcome that we needed regarding student growth and opportunities."
Harris County faced delays in reporting early voting results Nov. 2 amid electrical challenges, the Elections Administrator noted on the elections Facebook page late Nov. 2.
"Lots of movement at Central Count as judges drop off their equipment, so we apologize for the noise. Election results are delayed after an outlet tripped at Central Count and caused an outage. The machines are sensitive to any interference, so to ensure the integrity of the computers we conducted a full logic and accuracy test, which takes about two hours. Though we want to get the results out quickly, we prioritize processing everything accurately even if it takes some extra time. We appreciate your patience with this process and look forward to getting you the right information," the post reads.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
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