Just 5 short years ago, the District’s enrollment was around 8,300 students. Fast forward 6 years later and any day now we will be enrolling our 12,000th student.
We have experienced a tremendous amount of growth, but especially in the last two years, growing by almost 2,000 students. When you think about an elementary campus holding 700-900 students, that means we grew more than two schools in two years.
Families are moving to Forney. It has become a destination district and community. We are the 2nd fastest growing school district of comparable size in the state, and the 3rd fastest growing county in the nation.
It is projected that Forney ISD will grow by more than 8,500 students over the next ten years and reach a total student population of over 20,000 by 2029. That’s an increase of over 70 percent in the next ten years.
Earlier this year, the Forney ISD Board of Trustees and district administrators commissioned a group of parents, community members, local business people, students, teachers, district administrators and other Forney ISD employees to develop a comprehensive bond package to help us better manage this rapid growth. This committee, named the Innovative School Facilities Planning Committee, spent several months analyzing and researching our current facilities, demographic reports, growth patterns, enrollment projections, tax impact scenarios, educational programs, district finances, and both the immediate and long-term needs of the District.
Their work led the Innovative School Facilities Planning Committee to unanimously recommend a comprehensive $623 million bond package to prepare Forney ISD for our fast growth in student enrollment. The Forney ISD Board of Trustees also unanimously approved this recommendation on May 29, and voters that live in Forney ISD can vote on the bond on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The committee recommended an early childhood center (Pre-K), three elementary schools, an intermediate school and improvements to existing schools.
In addition, the bond also includes an increase for secondary education capacity, including a new middle school, improvements to existing schools, upgrades and improvements to both high schools, as well as a new College & Career Center.
The committee also recommended district-wide improvements including the repurposing of Johnson Elementary School, capital improvements, basic maintenance and security upgrades for every campus.
Projects will not be recommended to be built until the enrollment requires additional capacity at each grade level. This bond supports a long-term facilities plan over many years to manage our fast-growth coming to Forney ISD.
Forney ISD received an A from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas for the 4th consecutive year, and our bond rating is an A+.
What’s important to note about this package?
• A long-term plan to manage fast growth (20,000 by 2029).
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://www.etypeservices.com/Forney%20MessengerID423/
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.