Tomball - Magnolia Edition | September 2025

Education

BY JULIANNA WASHBURN

Lone Star College enrollment up 5.9% Lone Star College System’s enrollment numbers are 5.9% higher than they were in fall 2024 and 15.9% higher than a decade ago, according to a Sept. 10 news release. “We celebrate the fact that more students are choosing to call Lone Star College Sys- tem home. However, our primary focus is not on boosting enrollment but on improv- ing student outcomes through high-quality education,” LSCS Executive Vice Chancellor Seelpa Keshvala said in the release. More details Per the news release, enrollment is at an all-time high this fall with 97,294 students. “Regardless of their background, we want to help our students get from where they are to where they want to be,” Keshvala said. Magnolia ISD approves $157.4M balanced budget Magnolia ISD trustees approved a balanced gen- eral fund budget of $157.4 million for scal year 2025-26 at its regular meeting Aug. 25. The district also approved its tax rate and a $500 stipend for all its employees. Breaking it down In the budget, MISD allotted $157.41 million in both revenue and expenses, which is an estimated $14 million increase compared to FY 2024-25, according to prior reporting. Teacher pay increases are included in the budget with the help of state funding from House Bill 2, which provides permanent raises for educators and support sta. Additionally, as part of MISD’s 2025-26 compensation plan that was approved June 10, the board authorized a $500 payment for district employees that was paid Sept. 15. MISD said for all sta pay raises not included in HB 2, local funds would be used to ll any gaps. “We’re able to come up with additional local funds to make sure that we gave raises to all ... employees,” MISD Assistant Superintendent of Operations Erich Morris said

TISD trustees OK $13M land purchase Tomball ISD trustees approved purchasing 110 acres to be used for district facilities during their Sept. 9 meeting. The two sep- arate properties—located near Telge Road— have a total price tag of about $13.63 million and will be paid with bond 2025 funds. In a nutshell TISD Superintendent Martha Sala- zar-Zamora said the decision is based on the district’s future needs. Trustee John McStra- vick added that the land could potentially be used for Elementary School No. 13.

General administration: $5.40M Other: $17.38M

Instruction: $95.32M Plant maintenance and operations: $15.89M School leadership: $10M Transportation: $8.05M Guidance, counseling and evaluation services: $5.36M

Total: $157.41M

SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also on the agenda District ocials also approved a total tax rate of $0.9583 per $100 valuation for FY 2025-26 at the meeting. The approved tax rate is lower than the FY 2024-25 tax rate, which was $0.9595 per $100 valuation, according to MISD ocials. According to MISD, the district’s total tax rate is made up of two parts: • $0.2926 per $100 valuation for the interest and sinking tax rate, which is used to pay o debt for school improvements • $0.6657 per $100 valuation for the maintenance and operations tax rate, which funds the general operations of MISD, including teacher salaries and supplies and utilities

“This continues to be in alignment with the district's history of purchasing property

for the future of our students in education." MARTHA SALAZAR ZAMORA, TOMBALL ISD SUPERINTENDENT

Tomball ISD’s tax rate history

$0 $0.5 $1 $2

$1.29

$1.25

$1.23

$1.0652

$1.0629 $1.0629

2021-22

2023-24

2025-26

2020-21

2019-20

2022-23

2024-25

School year

SOURCE: TOMBALL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Tomball ISD approves tax rate for FY 202526 Tomball ISD approved a tax rate of $1.0629 per $100 valuation for FY 2025-26 on Sept. 9. Explained The approved tax rate remains the same as last scal year, per TISD ocials, and goes hand in hand with the balanced general fund budget the

district approved in June. TISD based its tax rate calculation on the expectation that voters will approve Senate Bill 4 in November and, as a result, raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, giving larger tax breaks to certain property owners and businesses. “Should that not happen? Should that ballot measure fail in November? We would have to go back and recalculate everyone’s tax bill back to the $100,000 homestead exemption and send out amended tax statements. Nobody anticipates that to occur,” Chief Financial Ocer Zack Boles said.

TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION