The Conroe ISD board approved the creation of a Facility Planning Committee in a Feb. 17 meeting. The FCP will review the district's projected growth for the next three to five years and ascertain the dollar amount to request in a possible November bond. Superintendent Don Stockton said he anticipates the amount for the November bond will be less than the $527 million 2008 bond.

The committee will begin meeting in March with the goal of bringing a recommendation to the board in June in anticipation of a November bond referendum, Stockton said.

A new demographic study conducted by the district indicated substantial growth in the next five years and increasing more beyond five years, Stockton said. From 2003–13, Conroe ISD gained approximately 16,000 students.

"CISD continues to experience heavy growth and today's enrollment of 56,450 is approximately 1,500 students more than this time last year," Stockton said. "The purpose of the Facility Planning Committee is to review the district's projected growth and instructional needs for the next three to five years and make a recommendation to the board to address those needs while impacting the tax rate as minimally as possible."

The district's tax rate is $1.28 per $100 of property valuation. While a change in the tax rate under a bond is not yet known, Stockton said the goal is to have the lowest rate possible.

The FCP is made up of 23 citizens in the district who represent various geographic areas. Committee members were either recommended or expressed an interest in the role.