Magnolia ISD committee recommends $527 million bond; board approves FM 1488 roadway agreement and accepts construction savings

A citizen advisory committee that studied Magnolia Independent School District facilities recommended a $527,034,839 bond package to the school board and asked trustees to consider calling a bond election for Nov. 4, 2025. The board, meeting in open session, did not call an election that night but approved a separate agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to build roadway improvements at FM 1488 near Magnolia Parkway Junior High and accepted a construction savings on Magnolia Parkway Intermediate School that reduced its guaranteed maximum price to $41,652,996.

The committee’s recommendation was presented by Rachel Irvin, a member of the facility planning committee. “After each meeting, the excitement in the room for the future of our district was palpable,” Irvin said, summarizing a six‑meeting process that included demographic and facilities experts and 42 committee members. The committee’s report said Magnolia ISD enrollment is about 15,000 now and is forecast to exceed 18,000 in five years; the analysis said several campuses, including Audubon and Williams elementaries, are expected to reach or exceed capacity within two to four years and Magnolia West High School could reach capacity within two years.

Why it matters: the committee framed the bond as a way to add new campuses, maintain small campus sizes and address immediate maintenance and safety needs districtwide. The committee’s recommended package lists a proposed new high school (High School No. 3) at $295,000,000; two new elementary schools (Elementary No. 10 at $50,400,000 and Elementary No. 11 at $53,900,000); a second district natatorium at $24,400,000; district‑wide safety and security work at $5,000,000; buses at $12,500,000; land acquisition at $15,000,000; priority facility upgrades at $27,000,000; and other athletic and site projects for a total of $527,034,839. The committee noted the district’s financial capacity could support up to $650 million without raising the current tax rate.

Board action and related capital items: during the business portion of the meeting, staff asked trustees to approve a resolution so TxDOT could finalize and attach district language to an agreement for construction of roadway improvements along FM 1488 at Magnolia Parkway Junior High. Staff said TxDOT approved the roadway design and the district had already hired a contractor and ordered long‑lead items; the district’s speaker asked trustees to authorize the resolution so work could start immediately. The board approved that resolution by voice vote after a motion from Trustee Dasha Owens and a second from Trustee Sonia Ebel.

Staff also presented a final change order on the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for Magnolia Parkway Intermediate School. District staff explained contingencies and some plan‑B items were included in the original GMP but ultimately were not required, producing savings. The district reported an approximate $5.93 million reduction from the prior GMP and presented a final price of $41,652,996; trustees approved the change order by voice vote after a motion and second. Staff said the reduced per‑square‑foot cost reflected timing in the market and the benefits of getting the project to market early.

What trustees said: board members and staff repeatedly framed the proposals around student safety, capacity and stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Superintendent Doctor Bullock and Board President Gary Blizzard thanked committee members for their time and emphasized the district would use bond counsel to determine how any package would be split into ballot propositions if the board calls an election.

Next steps: the facility planning committee’s recommendation is advisory; trustees said they will consider whether to call a bond election before the board’s legal deadline (committee noted Aug. 18 as the last day to call). The approved TxDOT resolution allows the district to proceed with the FM 1488 intersection work; staff said contractors would aim to start immediately and target early July completion. The GMP change order is final for Magnolia Parkway Intermediate and will appear in project accounting.

Ending: trustees voted to approve the TxDOT resolution and the GMP change order during the meeting. The committee’s full bond recommendation will return to the board if trustees decide to call an election; no bond election call was made that night.