WELCOMING STUDENTS Magnolia ISD s new intermediate campuses were funded by the district s $92 million bond referendum voters approved in 2015.

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1 TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 SEPT. 4 - OCT. 2, 2018 NO EDUCATION INSIDE, FIND 11 PAGES OF COVERAGE FOCUS WELCOMING STUDENTS Magnolia ISD s new intermediate campuses were funded by the district s 92 million bond referendum voters approved in IMPACTS Now Open, Coming Soon and more 54.5 MILLION of bond funds were budgeted for the two campuses. The intermediate campuses free up New schools shine light on growth in Tomball, Magnolia ISDs Districts anticipate future bond packages to fund new schools, accommodate housing growth BY ANNA DEMBOWSKI Officials in Tomball and Magnolia ISDs are looking to the next wave of enrollment growth as student enrollments surpass 16,000 and 13,000 students in each district, respectively, at the start of the school year. While voters in each district have approved multimillion-dollar bond referendums since 2015, officials with each district said another bond package is likely once residential growth strains campus capacities in the coming years. FIFTH GRADE SEATS at all eight elementary schools to accommodate growing enrollment. SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER It s something that you have to be in front of instead of waiting until we ve already exceeded capacity at whichever location and then going out for a bond [referendum], said Erich Morris, MISD assistant superintendent of operations. We have to project these things. Growing enrollments mean more facilities, district officials said. However, the state s share of total school facilities debt has dwindled from 45 percent to 6 percent since CONTINUED ON 28 COURTESY MAGNOLIA ISD 8 TO-DO LIST Local events and things to know EDUCATION 2018 FOCUS DISTRICT DEEP DIVE 19 Tomball, Magnolia ISDs 21 CAMPUS PROFILE 26 ALPHA Academy NEWS BRIEFS Updates from Tomball ISD Church leaders: Magnolia s water rate structure is unethical Higher rates debuted in April cause concern for nonprofits, churches, schools BY ANNA DEMBOWSKI Nonprofits, churches and schools in the city of Magnolia said they are government entities. With the rate adjustment, church leaders said they have seen water social and cultural issues that is representing churches in the city of Magnolia. grappling with higher water bills via bills increase as much as 300 percent. Previously, institutions were a new utility structure the city rolled Now, the city may face legal charged the same rates as businesses. out in April that charges them higher action from local water users. Nobody argued with being rates than local businesses. Magnolia City Council members Institutional leaders do not object to the rate hike but rather to the creation charged commercial rates. None of the churches asked for discounts. unanimously voted this spring of an institutional category They re just saying, Treat us like to implement higher water rates, charged higher rates than commercial everybody else, Welch said. revise the rate structure and add an entities, said Dave Welch, pres- Welch said the group may institutional user category, which applies to tax-exempt, nonprofit or ident of the Texas Pastor Council a group encouraging engagement in look to litigation in the coming CONTINUED ON BUSINESS FEATURE Home & Ranch Outfitters 33 PEOPLE Beth Jones, city of Tomball Public works director

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5 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER PUBLISHERS AND FOUNDERS John and Jennifer Garrett PUBLISHER-HOUSTON METRO Jason Culpepper GENERAL MANAGER Chrissy Leggett, EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Lanane MANAGING EDITOR Matt Stephens EDITOR Anna Dembowski STAFF WRITERS Vanessa Holt, Kara McIntyre, Jules Rogers, Carina Smith COPY CHIEF Andy Comer COPY EDITORS Jan Buchholz, Richard Guerrero ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Tess Coverman ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE April Halpin DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Jenny Abrego GRAPHIC DESIGNER Matthew T. Mills STAFF DESIGNER Evelia Gramajo BUSINESS GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Claire Love Check out education content as school starts up again for Tomball, Magnolia ISDs The school year began Aug. 20 and 21 for Magnolia and Tomball students, respectively. Within this issue, we feature our annual Education Focus spotlighting Tomball and Magnolia ISDs. As part of its 92 million bond approved by voters in 2015, Magnolia ISD welcomed students to two new schools this year. The new campuses combine the fifth- and sixth-grade levels at both Magnolia Intermediate School and Bear Branch Intermediate School, freeing up seats at MISD elementary campuses where fifth-grade students previously attended. Tomball ISD s 275 million bond approved by voters last November funds projects that are just beginning, including two new schools drawing from enrollment growth in the southern part of the district. Our cover story looks into the capacity levels of area schools and how the ongoing community growth, which will bring new students, will affect MISD and TISD in the upcoming years. As part of Education Focus, you will also find campus maps (see pages 22 and 24), state test scores, accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency and the school feeder charts. We feature updates on school security initiatives in Tomball on Page 21 and relevant news and updates you need to know regarding education. We wish all of the students in our community a great school year full of support, learning and adventure as you prepare to be our next leaders. Chrissy Leggett GENERAL MANAGER cleggett@communityimpact.com ASK THE EDITOR ABOUT US FEATURED STORIES John and Jennifer Garrett began Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 in Pflugerville, Texas. The company s mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. CONTACT US 8400 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Ste. 220 Houston, TX communityimpact.com PRESS RELEASES tomnews@communityimpact.com SUBSCRIPTIONS communityimpact.com/subscriptions ADVERTISE WITH US For advertising inquiries, please contact us at tomads@communityimpact.com or Proudly printed by: Anna Dembowski EDITOR adembowski@communityimpact.com 2018 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher. NEW 2018 GMC SIERRA 1500 CREW CAB 12, FOR 39 MONTHS CREW CAB SLT: MSRP 55, FACTORY REBATE BM DISCOUNT. Do you have a question about how local government works or something going on in town? Send it to tomnews@communityimpact.com. How did Magnolia ISD s tax swap fare? 6 IMPACTS Magnolia ISD voters opposed a Tax Ratification Election on Aug. 14 that would have provided the district with more funds for its day-to-day operations without increasing the total tax rate. About 51.4 percent of voters, or 1,694 individuals, voted against the tax swap, while 48.6 percent of voters, or 1,603 individuals, supported the measure, according to the Montgomery County Elections Office. If approved, the tax swap would have increased the maintenance and operations portion of the tax rate by 0.10 by subtracting 0.10 from the interest and sinking portion of the total tax rate, holding the overall tax rate at per 100 valuation. By doing so, the tax swap was expected to bring the district 4 million more for daily operations this fiscal year. District officials said they planned to use the additional funds for salary increases, additional staff, security improvements and student programs. Superintendent Todd Stephens said while the district is disappointed with the outcome, MISD has a balanced budget for FY TO-DO LIST NEW 2018 GMC ACADIA 23,756 10, OUR PRICE STARTS NOW! NEW 2018 GMC YUKON DENALI 11,077 Now Open, Coming Soon & more Local events in Tomball, Magnolia 13 CITY Cities draft budgets for FY SPECIAL SECTION EDUCATION FOCUS 21 EDUCATION BRIEFS 22 SCORES, RATINGS AND BOUNDARIES Data for Tomball, Magnolia ISDs 26 CAMPUS PROFILE ALPHA Academy 30 BUSINESS FEATURE Home & Ranch Outfitters 31 DINING FEATURE Mandi Cocina Mexicana 33 PEOPLE Beth Jones, public works director for the city of Tomball 38 REAL ESTATE 41 IMPACT DEALS NEW 2019 BUICK ENVISION 578 FOR 39 MONTHS 3 2 FOR 24 MONTHS 18 ACADIA: MSRP 33, FACTORY REBATE - 18 YUKON DENALI MSRP 73, FACTORY REBATE BM DISCOUNT BM DISCOUNT. 31, OUR PRICE 293 OR LEASE /Mo FOR FOR 24 MONTHS 4 19 ENVISION: MSRP 36, BM DISCOUNT BeckMastenNorth.com WEST CALL: Pictures & Colors For Illustration Only... 1, 3) 39 Mo. Closed End Lease... 0 Due at Signing + TT&L Due at Lease Inception (Cash or Trade). Security Deposit Waived w/approved Credit. 1)15,171, 3)22,541 Total Lease Term Payments... 2,4) 24 Mo. 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