In just over four weeks, voters in the Willis Independent School District in Texas will again vote on bond issues that could fund a $68.8 million high school football stadium and athletic complex.
If approved Nov. 5, the stadium would be among the most expensive in Texas. The district has one high school, Willis, with two middle schools and six elementary schools.
D.J. Lagway, last year's MaxPreps National Player of the Year, led
Willis to a 12-1 record and the school's first district title since 2002. Lagway broke the Class 6A single-season touchdown pass record (58) and finished with 4,631 yards passing while adding nearly 1,000 yards rushing and 15 more scores. He has split time at Florida this season for the 3-2 Gators.
An artist's rendering of the proposed new stadium at Willis, the fate of which voters will decide in early November. (Photo: Willis ISD)
Last year, a $102.4 million bond measure for new athletic facilities in the fast-growing Prosper ISD was the only one of four propositions to fail.
Voters previously rejected three Willis bond measures in May, the stadium proposal along with a $27 million student activity center and a $19.6 million aquatic center.
The top five most expensive stadiums in Texas include:
• Cy-Fair FCU Stadium at Berry Center — $80 million; 11,000 seats serving Cy-Fair ISD schools
• Legacy Stadium — $72 million, 12,000 seats serving Katy ISD schools
• McKinney Stadium — $70 million, 12,000 seats serving McKinney ISD schools
• Eagle Stadium — $60 million, 18,000 seats serving Allen ISD schools
• Woodforest Bank Stadium — $49 million, 10,000 seats serving Conroe ISD schools
"As we have worked on long-term planning for Willis ISD, we wholeheartedly believe the facilities proposed through this referendum will provide students with the opportunities they need to excel in academics and extracurricular activities," superintendent Kimberly James
told The Courier of Montgomery County.
The district is hoping the presidential election will boost turnout.
The $68.8 million stadium complex would include roughly 8,500 seats with 3,400 parking spaces, a community room, a field house, concessions and track and field facilities. It would replace Berton A. Yates Stadium, a 50-year-old facility constructed when district enrollment was less than 400 students. Today, the district's enrollment is nearly 3,000.
The school district plans a community presentation on Monday that will discuss growth, the proposed projects as well as the tax implications. The last day to register to vote in Texas is Monday, Oct. 7.
