Education
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
MISD sends $516.9M bond to November ballot Voters will see a $516.92 million bond package for Magnolia ISD on the ballot when they head to the polls for the Nov. 4 election. MISD trustees approved the bond package to appear on November ballots in a 6-1 vote Aug. 11. The package includes propositions for a new high school, two new elementary schools and a natatorium at a time when the district is addressing increasing growth across its schools. “We’re busting the seams—or going to be really quick—so we had a bond committee get together and help us to gure out what we need to handle the growth that was coming,” board President Gary Blizzard said. How it happened The decision to call for a bond came after a recommendation from the district’s facility planning committee, made up of 50 community members,
Thrive Center for Success expands
Lone Star trustees OK $548M budget for FY 202526
MISD proposes tax rate decrease
MISD’s proposed bond
Proposition A: New schools and facilities; safety and security upgrades; land and bus acquisitions: $469M Proposition B: Multipurpose facilities, athletic upgrades: $22.9M
Lone Star College System’s board of trustees passed a balanced budget of $548 million for scal year 2025-26 on Aug. 7. The gist LSCS’ approved FY 2025-26 budget includes $34.95 million in total new revenue, which comes from state appropriations, property taxes and students, among other miscellaneous sources, according to a presentation by Kristy Vienne, the college system’s chief nancial ocer and vice chancellor for nance and administration. What’s changed Since the June 5 meeting, LSCS saw a $13 million drop in the forecasted revenue from the state— from $124 million to $111 million. “Even with the $13 million loss ... nothing that we represented to employees and students that would be in the budget for the next year is going to be aected,” LCSC Chancellor Mario Castillo said.
LSC’s FY 202526 budget priorities
Thrive With Autism, a nonpro t helping children with autism, expanded its Thrive Center for Success location in Magnolia with a 12,700-square-foot facility featuring 14 new classrooms, said Chris Gonzalez, a spokesperson with facilities development nonpro t Blueprint. Students returned to the center Aug. 15. About the project Gonzalez said the expansion will accom- modate the growing demand for free, public autism-focused schooling for students in grades K-8 and eventually through 12th grade as the center continues to add grades each year. The expanded center includes 14 class- rooms, including a multipurpose room, new parking and additional play spaces.
Magnolia ISD’s Chief Financial Ocer Erich Morris recommended a proposed balanced general fund budget of $157.4 million for MISD’s 2025-26 school year at an Aug. 6 workshop meeting. A minimum of 4% pay raises for all sta are included in the pro- posed budget with the help of state funding from House Bill 2. The MISD school board also approved a proposed total tax rate of $0.9583 per $100 valuation for scal year 2025-26 during its Aug. 11 regular meeting. That tax rate is $0.0312 lower than the FY 2024-25 tax rate, which was $0.9895 per $100 valuation, per MISD’s nances website. Also of note The hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate was held Aug. 25 after press time.
Total: $516.92M
3% employee compensation adjustment $9M Hiring Magnolia Center sta, covering operating costs $1.9M Funding for new Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching program $321K Mental health funding to meet increasing need, operate programs $2M
Proposition C: Second district natatorium: $24M
SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
parents, business leaders and elected ocials. District ocials said projects in the proposed bond can be funded with Magnolia ISD’s existing tax rate. The district’s tax rate will not increase as a result of these bonds. “Two bonds in 13 years. I mean, our debt load is about as low as anybody’s,” Blizzard said. What’s next Early voting will begin Oct. 20. Election Day is Nov. 4.
SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEMCOMMUNITY IMPACT
What else? LSCS ocials expect to propose a tax rate of $0.1060 per $100 valuation for FY 2025-26—which is lower than the FY 2024-25 tax rate of $0.1076 per $100 valuation. LSCS trustees will adopt the tax rate Oct. 2.
TOMBALL PARKWAY 28595 Tomball Pkwy (281) 290-7810
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110
SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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