The Board of Trustees has unanimously called for a bond election to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. The bond is a continuation of the referendum on the May 2024 ballot, which was only partially approved by voters.
The bond package consists of three separate propositions designed to address educational and extracurricular opportunities and facilities while focusing on needs associated with population growth and student programs.
The bond election will present voters with three separate propositions:
Proposition A: Construction of a comprehensive Student Activity Center to be located at Willis High School. The multipurpose building would provide additional classrooms, boys and girls locker rooms, a weight room, a media room, and an indoor field for all student groups to utilize.
Proposition B: Construction of an Athletic Complex and Stadium to accommodate large home and visitor crowds, plus replace the nearly 50-year-old structure requiring increasingly costly repairs. The facility will be located on property already owned by the district at the corner of Highway 75 and FM 830, across from Willis High School.
Proposition C: Addition of an Aquatic Center with a 50-meter USA-sanctioned swimming pool and dive well. The pool would be used by the current swim and dive team for practices and meets. The district will develop a water safety program for elementary-aged students. The district will also look into offering Red Cross Lifeguard Training to WISD students.
This bond referendum comes after Willis ISD voters approved Proposition A of the May 2024 bond, which provides funds for a Willis High School 9th grade expansion to add capacity for 1,200 students, Willis HS parking lot upgrades, a new transportation center, and general infrastructure improvements.
Last spring, the district received the results of a demographic study conducted by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), a respected research firm that partners with school districts across Texas. PASA’s projections show that Willis ISD has entered a moderate to fast growth rate and is predicted to add an additional 10,000 students by 2033, effectively doubling current enrollment.
If voters approve all three propositions on the ballot this November, the potential increase is 1 cent to the I&S tax rate. The Willis ISD Board of Trustees has managed to maintain a fiscally conservative tax rate, lowering the overall tax rate by more than 31 cents over the last six years.
According to Board President Kyle Hoegemeyer, “Willis ISD is obviously experiencing significant growth in infrastructure and homes. Along with that growth we see evolving needs in our students, families and staff. The projects proposed in this bond election are a reflection of what our board, administration and Long-Range Planning Committee members have identified as needs that focus on improving the overall academic experience for students in Willis ISD.”
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Early voting will run from October 21 through November 1. Any new Willis ISD residents not already registered to vote must register by October 7 in order to vote in this election.
