Posted 10:20 p.m. CST
According to unofficial results, voters supported Tomball ISD's $160 million bond 69 percent to 31 percent. Harris County has 94 percent of precincts counted and Montgomery County has all precincts reporting.
" It looks very favorable ," said Ken Odom, a Tomball ISD school board member . "This community has a history of supporting our schools and it looks like they are continuing that tradition."
In Harris County, 1,209 voters (73%) supported the bond, compared with 442 (27%) opposed. In Montgomery County, 146 voters (59%) opposed the bond and 103 voters (41%) supported it.
Posted 7:20 p.m. CST
According to unofficial results, a majority of voters are in favor of Tomball ISD's $160 million bond to fund four new schools and pay for renovations at all existing schools, with 63.2% of absentee and early voters in favor of the bond and 36.8% opposed, Harris County reported.
The district called the bond election in response to a surge of growth in the northeast and southern regions of Tomball ISD. The districts student population is projected to grow by 3,700 students in the next five years. There are currently 11,700 students in Tomball ISD.
" I would say the early totals are very encouraging," said Ken Odom, a Tomball ISD school board member . . "And we have had a really good day out at the polls. We are optimistic about the outlook at this point."
Tomball ISD is the fastest growing school district, based on percentage, among seven counties surrounding Houston, including Harris, Chambers, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, said Huey Kinchen, the district's deputy superintendent. There are 51 public school districts in those counties.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Renovations
The bond also funds renovations at all of the district's 12 schools, including new technology, security upgrades and additional school buses, district officials said.
The bond includes renovation projects at Lakewood and Decker Prairie elementary schools to upgrade the front administration areas and the cafeterias.
Timber Creek and Creekside Forest elementary schools will be renovated to move sixth grade from the campuses and alter the schools to a K-5 instead.
In addition, the bond will include money to help with traffic congestion relief at Tomball Junior High School and Northpointe Intermediate.
The bond provides money for facility improvements district-wide, including upgrades to air conditioning, heating, lighting, roof replacement, paving, and other electrical, mechanical and plumbing projects, district officials said.
The new schools, which will cost $110 million, include an elementary and intermediate school in the southern area of the district.
In addition, an elementary and a junior high will be built in The Woodlands to help with growth at area elementary schools and Tomball Junior High. The need for these schools is based on growth projections through the 2018–19 school year.
Although Creekside Forest Elementary is the only school exceeding capacity this year, projections show Canyon Pointe Elementary and Northpointe Intermediate school exceeding capacity in 2014, Willow Creek Elementary and Tomball Junior High School in 2015, and Timber Creek campuses in 2016.
In addition to the new schools, the district has set aside $30 million for additions and renovations to existing infrastructure and $28 million for improvements to transportation and technology.
Also in the bond, Tomball ISD will renovate the district stadium track and install field turf at the stadium. Field turf will also be added at Tomball Memorial High School. The bond will also fund new weight rooms at each junior high school as well.
Other improvements include the installation of security vestibules at the main entrance of campuses that do not already have them. The district also plans to add a second agriculture project barn.
