With a low unemployment rate, a booming economy and a great housing market, the Comal Independent School District continues to see unprecedented growth, propelling its Board of Trustees to consider a Bond package to present to voters in May.
At the most recent Board workshop held on January 9, the administration presented to the Board $496 million in projects that could potentially be included in the upcoming bond package. The Board will meet again in late January to further discuss refinements to the bond package before calling an election in February.
“There is no better time than now to look at ways to invest in our schools not only for those who have lived here their whole lives, but for those who are coming to put down their roots here,” said Jason York, president of the Comal ISD Board of Trustees. “Our children and their families deserve the best education that we can provide for them, and that includes having facilities that allow for the continued growth, advanced technology and safe transportation.”
Set in the heart of the second fastest growing county in the nation, Comal ISD is expected to see enrollment numbers continue to increase into the foreseeable future. According to the district’s demographer, Templeton Demographics, Comal ISD will have an increase of 6,500 students during the next five years with a 2024-2025 enrollment projection of 31,489 students and more than 38,000 students in the 2029-2030 school year.
In order to meet the needs of such a fast-growing school district, a group of community leaders including parents, known as Comal Forward, has been meeting regularly for the past few months to identify projects which will help maintain and further the district’s priorities including academic performance, facilities, choice and the recruitment and development of talent.
The Comal Forward committee members presented their findings to the Comal ISD Board of Trustees who will have the final discussion and vote on the proposed package. A few of the areas identified for the bond include the opening of two elementary schools and one middle school; the purchase of land for future use; classroom technology; the addition of buses; and capital projects such as new playground surfacing for all elementary campuses.
In addition to the main bond package, the Board of Trustees is also considering a student event center as a separate proposition. This proposed 7,000 to 10,000 capacity, multi-use event center, will serve as the heart of all Comal ISD events from graduations, sporting events, tournaments, concerts and performances to school fairs and expositions.
The multi-functional designed center will be able to support event needs for not only the district but the community as well.
With 589 square miles, Comal ISD is one of the largest school districts geographically in the state of Texas, serving parts of five counties and 10 communities including Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Garden Ridge, Fischer, New Braunfels, the northern tip of San Antonio, Sattler, Smithson Valley, Spring Branch and Startzville.
The event center will serve as a home for all of these communities and their campuses playing host to band concerts and competitions, chess tournaments, proms, art shows, livestock shows, dance and cheer competitions, and staff development and trainings.
Additionally, the center could be rented by other entities for banquets, charity and fundraising events, meetings and conferences, home and garden shows, trade shows, festivals and various competitions.
For more information about Bond 2020, please visit the Comal ISD website at www.comalisd.org/bond2020/. Please check back often as new information will be added as the bond package is refined.