Early voting begins today in Texas, and while there are many important elected positions to vote for, I believe the most important decision is to vote “For” the Katy bond referendum on the ballot. Residents of Katy ISD will have the choice to vote “For” or “Against” a $459.7 million bond which is needed to construct several new schools, repair and renovate several others, and generally maintain the overall exceptional level of education in the district.
Katy ISD is known for being the best overall school district in the greater Houston metro area, and one of the best school districts in all of Texas. In fact, if not for a tiny reporting error on the number of graduates last year, Katy would have received the highest possibly rating of Exemplary. Katy right now has 50 schools…yes, that’s right…50. 26 of them were rated Exemplary, and 24 were rated Recognized. This is why Katy, TX was the number 2 fastest growing boomtown in the U.S. last year and why communities like Cinco Ranch continue to be the number one selling master planned community in the whole country. Katy ISD is why people are moving into Katy at an astonishing rate, even in the midst of a huge recession. Enrollment has increased from 50,000 students to 60,000 in the past four years and it expected to keep escalating.
But this explosion of growth, which recently has been mostly in the southwestern quadrant of Katy ISD, is causing an overcrowding issue in many schools. Nearly every school, even the newly built elementary and junior high schools, require the use of portable classrooms…trailers. My kids go to an already overcrowded elementary school, and I would rather they not have to go outside to trailers for class. Small class size is important to a quality education. The newly built Seven Lakes High School is massive and continuing to grow at an alarming pace. If the bond does not pass, programs will be cut. So land has been acquired between Pine Mill Ranch and Cinco Ranch West for a new high school. That land has been sitting there vacant with a big sign advertising a future Katy ISD high school ever since I moved in. So construction of that high school is planned in the next few years and will cost nearly $300 million. I believe it is imperative that the school gets built, along with a new junior high and three new elementary schools planned. The money from the bond will accommodate 7,500 new students.
But the money is not just for new schools on the south side of Katy. It is also to improve and renovate six of the oldest schools, including Katy, Taylor, and Mayde Creek HS. It also DOES pay for more portable classrooms and more buses to send students to farther away schools, as so many people have suggested. It funds major technology upgrades which are vital if our district is to remain elite and attract the attention of college recruiters and new families.
Half a billion dollars seems like a lot of money in the economy we live in. But the overall affect on our taxes will be very small. If the bond passes, the tax rate will increase by $0.01 in 2011 and then $0.03 in 2012. If your house is worth about 200K, your taxes will only go up by about $18. Isn’t that worth it for the continuation of educational excellence and global market appeal in Katy? In fact, if you are over 65 your taxes won’t change AT ALL.
Here’s the key…the last bond in Katy to come up on a ballot barely passed…only 51% voted for it. Because we are choosing a new governor for Texas, voter turnout is expected to be high. This bond NEEDS your vote FOR it. Early voting starts today…it’s much easier to vote early when lines are short to non-existent. I even took my toddler with me to vote and it was no problem. Please also remember that if you normally vote straight down one ticket, you will have to additionally select your answer “For” or “Against” the bond…it is at the bottom of the ballot and is not included in the straight ticket slate.
Please don’t skip this election. Let your voice be heard, and especially if your kids do or will attend Katy schools, vote “FOR” the bond.