Plano North | October 2025

BY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & HANNAH JOHNSON

One more thing

Diving deeper

Collin College is in a position to deliver the education that supports industry and ensures the success of the region, Matkin said. The $71.8 million Frisco health sciences center, which is set to open in January 2027, will help with expanding programs already oered at Collin College and will be the future home to in-development programs. The center was intentionally designed to support innovative learning through hands-on clinical spaces and simulation technology, Matkin said. The center will have learning spaces dedicated to new radiology and imaging programs. Potential programs being considered include Radiologic Technology, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Cardiovascular Technology, and Medical Laboratory Technician.

Plano ISD students have an even earlier route into the medical eld with the district’s Health Sciences Academy, a partnership with Collin College that oers dual-credit courses and clinical placements for high school students. “They can go straight into the workforce, go to a two-year school, a four-year school and go on to medical school,” said Kimberly Chandler, PISD health science career and technical education coordinator. The program oers seven dierent tracks, including four that allow students to graduate high school with a Collin College certicate. The district and Collin College partner with local hospitals to make sure the program is meeting workforce needs. Plano ISD’s next newest health care program will be radiology tech due to feedback during a recent roundtable discussion with local hospitals. “We need to hear what our workforce partners need, and we need to make sure that we are lling

PISD partners with Collin College to provide students hands on experience in the health care eld.

COURTESY PLANO ISD

that pipeline,” Chandler said. PISD CTE Coordinator Karen Buechman added that the opportunity for “practical experience with patients” puts PISD Health Sciences Academy students ahead when applying for medical school. “You can’t volunteer and get that same experi- ence,” Buechman said. “They don’t let you touch patients; they let you deliver owers. [The Health Sciences Academy] is a very dierent experience where you actually are doing labs on patients. ... With that early exposure, the students leave with a better understanding of what they want to do.”

Changes to the City of Plano Residential Utility Rates

Effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, the City of Plano’s rates for residential water, sewer and solid waste services have increased. An average resident using 10,000 gallons of water, 7,000 gallons of sewer (winter quarter average) and a 95-gallon cart will see an approximate $15 increase on their total monthly utility bill. These changes are necessary for Plano to continue providing high-quality services at the best value possible despite growing costs. Two-thirds of our annual total water and wastewater expense is for wholesale water and wastewater treatment. The rate increases were first presented on July 30, 2025. Residential Water Rates Customers are currently charged a minimum monthly rate of $28.89 (1,000 gallons included) that will increase by $2.01. The City is in the second year of a 3-year-rate strategy to gradually bring the first-billed-tier rate up to cover the cost of wholesale water. The 1,001-5,000 gallons tier rate is increasing by $1.25, which is still less than the wholesale water cost charged by the North Texas Municipal Water District. Higher volumetric rates will increase by 7%. Residential Sewer Rates Sewer charges will increase by 7%. Your sewer bill is calculated based on your winter (December through February) water usage. Known as your Winter Quarter Average, it recalculates each year.

Water Rates*

Current Effective Oct. 1

The minimum includes the first 1,000 gallons

$28.89

$30.90

$3.45 $5.05

1,001 - 5,000 5,001 - 20,000 20,001 - 40,000 40,001 - Above

$2.20 $4.70 $9.40

$10.10 $12.10

*Based on the 3/4 and 1-inch meter size. $11.30

Sewer

Current Effective Oct. 1

The minimum includes the first 1,000 gallons

$20.10

$21.50

1,001 + gallons

$7.95

$8.50

Solid Waste

Current Effective Oct. 1

95-gallon (standard trash-only cart) 68-gallon* (trash-only) Extra cart* (95-gallon)

$24.60

$25.60

$17.61 $20.50

$18.32 $21.33

*A one-time $15 fee applies for the delivery of extra carts and carts of a different size.

For more residential rate information or specifics on larger meters or commercial properties, visit Plano.gov/WaterBill .

PLANO NORTH EDITION