Magnolia ISD calls $232 million bond election for Nov. 8 ballot

The Magnolia ISD board of trustees approved calling a $232 million bond election for the November ballot during a regular meeting Aug. 8, the district's first bond since 2015.

Superintendent Todd Stephens said the bond package consists of two propositions, with Proposition A totaling $228 million and Proposition B totaling $4 million. Voters will get to weigh in on both propositions in November.

Although the bond will increase the voter approved debt, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris said during the meeting the bond will not increase the tax rate—which trustees proposed decreasing 4 cents for the upcoming fiscal year during the Aug. 8 meeting regardless of the bond's passage.

Proposition A includes a ninth elementary school costing $41 million, a third middle school costing $66 million, a third junior high costing $85 million, $10 million toward land for future schools and $2 million towards safety and security, according to the meeting presentation. According to previous reporting, Stephens recommended adding the $2 million toward safety and security in light of the Uvalde school shooting.

"I feel comfortable with a lot of the level of security enhancements we have currently in our buildings," Stephens said Aug. 8. "But I think it's something we have to continually keep looking at."

During the meeting, data was presented by Deputy Superintendent Jason Bullock that demonstrates rapid enrollment growth in MISD, with some campuses outpacing enrollment projections for the upcoming school year already as of Aug. 8. According to Bullock, items within Proposition A are needed due to buildings reaching capacity.

"Our junior high school is already in that 90% capacity level and even our sixth grade and fifth grade centers are breaking in," Bullock said. "So there's a real need ... to get buildings on the ground to alleviate this growth issue."

Proposition B consists of a single item to add turf to the baseball and softball areas at both high schools, costing $4 million total or $2 million per high school, Stephens said.

The bond election was called by the board and will go to voters on Nov. 8.