EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Lone Star College & Magnolia ISD
HIGHLIGHTS MAGNOLIA ISD Candidate filings for the May 6 election show Stacia Hamm Norris is running unopposed for Position 5 on the Magnolia ISD board of trustees. Position 5 is currently held by Joe Duncan, who is not running for re-election. MAGNOLIA ISD Construction bids were received in February for Audubon Elementary School, which will be funded by MISD’s November 2022 bond package, said Tim Bruner, executive director of facilities. The district is anticipating the school will be open in 2024. Bruner also said at a February board meeting he anticipates the board will vote in May on the guaranteed maximum price for the intermediate school in the bond, and the junior high school is expected to go out for construction bids in June. Tomball ISD board of trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. April 10-11 at 310 S. Cherry St., Tomball. 281-357-3100. www.tomballisd.net Magnolia ISD board of trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia. 281-356-3571. www.magnoliaisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER
Lone Star College System board of trustees votes unanimously to raise tuition starting fall 2023 BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
RAISING RATES Lone Star College System’s
in-district, out-of district, dual credit and international/out-of-state tuition rates will increase this fall.
of factors that affect our budget— assessed value, student growth and state funding. In the middle of all that, we are thinking about what the tax rate might be and what the homestead exemption might look like, too. We are trying to be responsive to taxpayers as well as our students.” According to LSCS information, in-district tuition will increase from $96 to $103 per credit hour. The 7.3% increase from the 2022 rate increase is a smaller percent change than the 9.1% increase from $88 to $96 per credit hour the year prior. Out-of-district tuition increased by 7.9% from $214 per credit hour in 2022 to $231, while out-of-state and international tuition jumped by 7.8% from $269 in 2022 to $290. Dual-credit tuition increased by more than 50%. The previous $26 fee increased to $40 per credit hour, according to information from LSCS. Registration for the fall semester will start April 6.
LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM Trustees unanimously voted March 2 to increase Lone Star College System tuition starting in the fall. Tuition will increase across in- and out-of-district tuition costs, out-of- state tuition, and dual-credit tuition. LSCS Chancellor Stephen Head said the board agreed in 2016 to equalize the percentage of the budget that students and taxpayers pay in a fiscal year. The upcoming increase is part of that plan. “This current year, taxpayers were paying 60% of the costs while students were only paying 32%,” he said. “Our goal is to be in the middle.” Head said the board agreed to pause tuition increases in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision caused the taxpayer portion to surpass the 35% goal. “We don’t think it’s fair for the tax- payers to be paying more than half of the cost,” he said. “There are a number
Fall 2022
Fall 2023
Dual-credit tuition $26 per credit hour $40 per credit hour Out-of-district tuition $214 per credit hour $231 per credit hour International/out-of- state tuition $269 per credit hour $290 per credit hour In-district tuition $96 per credit hour $103 per credit hour
SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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TOMBALL - MAGNOLIA EDITION • MARCH 2023
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