Northwest ISD superintendent briefs Haslet council on rapid growth and proposed tax-rate election

Doctor Faust, superintendent of Northwest Independent School District, presented to the Haslet City Council on Oct. 21 about the district27s rapid growth, capital projects and the rationale for a voter-approved tax-rate election.

Faust said Northwest ISD covers roughly 234 square miles and has just surpassed 32,000 students, making it one of the fastest-growing districts in North Texas. "We're the fastest growing district in North Texas," Faust said during the presentation, and he summarized capacity plans that include five more elementary schools, another middle school and a fourth comprehensive high school over coming years. The district also plans a major renovation at Eaton High School and a 7,000-seat stadium funded by Proposition B from the 2023 bond program.

Faust described the district27s financial situation: the district recorded a $15.8 million budget deficit for the 202425 budget cycle and is seeking to place a maintenance-and-operations rate election on the Nov. 5 ballot to add three "golden pennies" aimed at preserving student programs and improving pay to recruit and retain staff. He said the proposed three-penny increase would cost the owner of an average $500,000 home about $120 per year and that the district expects the measure to raise roughly $13.8 million to $16 million in revenue, which would materially reduce the current deficit.

Faust also discussed the state27s recapture ("Robin Hood") system and the district27s advocacy for increasing the basic allotment or reducing recapture as ways to improve statewide school funding. Councilmembers pressed on turnover, teacher pay comparisons and legislative strategies; Faust described compensation adjustments and outreach to legislators to seek higher basic allotment funds.

The council thanked Faust for the overview; no formal council action was required on the presentation.