Education
Development
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
BY ADAM DOE
Novartis to build $280M plant to create cancer treatments
Denton ISD teachers to receive $750 pay raise Denton ISD teachers and sta members will receive a pay increase after the DISD community approved of a tax rate increase under Proposition A. The overview The pay increase was discussed during a Feb. 24 DISD board meeting. Teachers will receive a $750 increase, more than a 1% adjustment. Sta will receive a 1% increase on the midpoint of their current pay grade, a district news release states. Superintendent Susannah O’Bara said in a dis- trict-wide survey that sta members were asked how they wanted to utilize the additional funds. Sta “overwhelmingly” supported increasing sta pay and deemed that a top priority, she said. Learn more The pay adjustments were paid to sta members in a lump sum in March.
See Denton ISD’s graduation dates
“As we continue our budget work this spring, we are committed to building a long-term compensation plan
that re ects the value our employees bring to Denton ISD students and families.” JEREMY THOMPSON, DENTON ISD DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
Pharmaceutical company Novartis Gene Therapies will build and operate its rst Texas radioligand therapy, or RLT, manufacturing plant in Denton, according to a news release from the company. The site will be fully operational in 2028. Some background Denton City Council approved an economic development agreement with the company in December, according to previous reporting. Con- struction is expected to begin at the end of 2026, the release states. The new facility will produce drugs for radioli- gand therapy, a form of targeted radiation used to treat advanced forms of cancer, according to the Novartis website. It treats the advanced cancers without in icting as much damage to healthy tissue as traditional cancer treatments, Novartis’ website states. The Denton location will be the fth U.S. manu- facturing site of its kind, the release states.
What they’re saying The plant is part of the company’s $23 billion investment in the United States. The $280 million plant will create local jobs in bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, quality and operations. “[With] the partnerships with the universities, getting this property back on the tax rolls and how this places Denton and [Dallas-Fort Worth] in the pharmaceutical industry, I’m really excited to support this,” Mayor Pro Tem Suzi Rumohr said. “This would not only be a win for the city of Den- ton, but for DFW and the state of Texas,” Director of Economic Development Brittany Sotelo said. The backstory Denton City Council approved an economic development agreement and tax abatement with Novartis at a Dec. 16 meeting. The site was formerly operated by U.S. Radiopharmaceuticals, which closed in 2009, city documents state.
Denton ISD’s graduating class of 2026 is weeks away from walking the stage. The details Five of the district’s six graduation ceremonies will be held at the University of North Texas Coliseum, located at 601 North Texas Blvd., in Denton. Fred Moore High School’s ceremony will be held at the Denton High School Fine Arts Center. The high school graduation dates are: • Fred Moore: Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. • Ryan High: Thursday, May 21 at 3 p.m. • Guyer High: Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. • LaGrone Academy: Friday, May 22 at 11 a.m. • Braswell High: Friday, May 22 at 3 p.m. • Denton High: Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
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$280M invested by Novartis into Denton plant
DISD voters approved raising the tax rate to $1.2069 per $100 of assessed value in the Novem- ber election. The tax rate increase was expected to generate $26.91 million in new revenue for the district, which would result in a projected surplus of more than $11 million and help address the district’s projected shortfall of $15 million. O cials earmarked funds to support costs for instruction, district operations and general administration. District leaders expect to recommend a compen- sation increase for the 2026-27 school year later this semester, the release states.
46,000-square-foot facility
150 new jobs
$4.8M over 10 years in city revenue from new plant $3.23M in tax abatements once facility is operational
SOURCE: CITY OF DENTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
LEWISVILLE HIGHLAND 1151 FM 407 (469) 630-6306 DENTON 2315 Colorado Blvd (940) 243-2929
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