A new junior high and intermediate school in Magnolia ISD will be named Magnolia Parkway Junior High and Magnolia Parkway Intermediate School.Â
Both new schools were a part of a $228 million Magnolia ISD bond package approved by voters in 2022. The schools are set to open in August 2025. The new Audubon Elementary that opened Aug. 8 was also a part of the bond.Â
The names were approved unanimously at the Sept. 9 meeting of the school board. The new schools will be in the vicinity of Magnolia Parkway Elementary on FM 1488, east of Magnolia’s town center.Â
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Schools share mascot name
In a Sept. 24 Magnolia ISD newsletter the school mascot was named.Â
“Thank you to all of the parents who live in the proposed attendance zone of Magnolia Parkway Intermediate and Junior High. Your input on our mascot survey was valued. The majority of you selected panthers for the mascot. The district is excited to announce the new mascot for both schools will be the Parkway Panthers,” according to the newsletter.Â
Magnolia ISD Executive Director of Facilities Tim Bruner gave an update on construction progress to the Magnolia ISD board in August.Â
What to know about the junior high
The new junior high has a capacity for 1,200 students when it opens. The attendance zone will be bordered on the south by FM 1774 and include neighborhoods along FM 149, FM 1486, FM 1488 and Texas 249.Â
As of his report, crews were awaiting power to the building. He estimated power would be turned on in September and the project would enter its final phase.Â
He showed pictures of the entry, fine arts wing, main corridor, classrooms, gym, field house and concession stand.Â
“It’s a few months behind the intermediate. If we get power in the next 30 days this is on schedule for a March or April completion,” Bruner said.Â
What to know about the intermediate school
Bruner said crews are well ahead of schedule on the intermediate school and the school is set for completion in November. Bruner showed board members pictures of the new library, cafeteria, gym, classrooms, the kitchen and entrance. He pointed out that there is a large divider curtain in the gym to create two gym spaces one for fifth graders and one for sixth graders.Â
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New CTE center project
The 2022 bond also included updates to the district’s career and technology programs and its agriculture program.Â
A new career and technical education center was constructed at Magnolia West High School. The exterior is complete with the interior completion estimated for the end of this year.Â
Additions and upgrades also took place in the district’s Ag Barn with those updates complete this month.Â
November election
Magnolia ISD officials are calling for a local tax election in hopes of generating $7.4 million in funding for staff pay increases and additional constables for school safety.Â
Voters on Nov. 5 will decide whether to increase the current tax rate to $0.9895 per $100 valuation — a $0.03 increase from its current tax rate as part of a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election.
If voters approve the new tax rate, the district will not incur any new debt, but will receive $3.7 million more in local funding annually, which would then create another $3.7 million in state funding — a total of $7.4 million in funding annually.Â
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