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Prosper ISD Wants $710 Million to Accommodate Future Students

By Rachael Dunlap

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-645566.mp3

Drew Watkins, superintendent of Prosper ISD

Dallas, TX – At $593.6 million, Fort Worth's school bond package may have attracted more attention, but the largest school bond package in North Texas on next week's ballot is in the Collin County town of Prosper. School officials there want $710 million for more school buildings, buses and land purchases for future construction.

There's no overcrowding now, but the student population is projected to increase from 2,800 to 10,000 by 2015. Prosper Superintendent Drew Watkins, says growth is inevitable, but the general community reaction to the bond election has been positive.

Watkins:
People didn't move to Prosper for it to be one of the fastest growing school districts in the state. People like the bigger lot sizes, the sense of community and connectedness. Our challenge is to maintain all those great things if people are moving here. So, the people understand that it is a necessary thing. They expect us to be forward thinking and proactive in what we are doing for their kids and this community. If we're able to secure those future school sites at today's prices, we will be able to save literally millions of dollars in the long haul.

A separate rollback election, which would raise the Maintenance and Operation tax to 13 cents above the state level, would help fund the school bond, but Watkins says the two elections are independent. Commercial and residential growth is expected to fund the bond with or without the tax increase.