Updated June 18

At its June 17 meeting, the board officially approved PBK architects to perform design services. It will vote on approving the design at its July 15 meeting.

Posted June 11

The members of the Katy ISD Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to allow architecture firm PBK to complete design services for a second football stadium at its workshop meeting last night. The board will cast its official vote during the regular meeting June 17.

Plans for a new football stadium were among topics discussed during an operations update given to the board in May. The addition of a seventh high school and the subsequent scheduling problems that would arise for football games pointed to the necessity of a second space.

The presentation suggested a November bond election could pay for the project along with an agriculture complex to accompany the existing barns on Katy Hockley Road.

"The plan would be, pending a successful bond election, to have the stadium complete in time for the 2015-16 football season," said Peter McElwain, district architect and planner. "And in order to do that we have an aggressive schedule we need to adhere to."

A possible stadium timeline drafted by the operations department has a committee formed and conceptual design developed by July. At its July meeting the board may approve or pass on the final design, and in August the board would call for a bond election if deemed necessary.

Because there are a number of factors that can affect the cost of the design, an estimate was not presented to the board, but staff assured the trustees leftover money from the 2010 bond election would cover the price. The proposed bond election in November would pay for the actual construction costs if approved by voters.

"The design is not a waste of money because a new stadium will always be needed," said board President Rebecca Fox. "The community will tell us when."

The board will hold its regular meeting 6:30 p.m. June 17 at the Education Support Complex, 6301 S. Stadium Lane.