The City of Temple continues to see rapid growth and was recently cited as one of the top 25 fastest growing cities in the country. Five years ago our demographers forecasted that this development in southeast Temple would have a significant impact on Temple ISD and fast forward to today, this has become our reality and one that we have thoughtfully prepared for.

In 2019, we purchased 47 acres of land that could serve as the future site for both an elementary and middle school and in 2022, voters approved a bond that included construction of Sampson-Howard Elementary that will welcome children and families this August. We are currently working through the process of rezoning elementary attendance boundaries that will alleviate the overcrowding at our campuses in this southeastern quadrant. Once feedback is received from these parents on two proposed boundary maps, the Board of Trustees will consider the options and make a decision that will provide for our families for both now and the next five years.

We have worked closely with the City of Temple in our planning processes as we want to make sure that we are aligning timelines and maximizing tax-payer resources to every extent possible. Growth in our area is inevitable based on our location in Central Texas alone. However, our community has prioritized economic development, infrastructure improvements, and education focused on building a strong workforce and these things working in tandem is what makes Temple so appealing.

I am so proud of our district and how our board, leadership and community have worked together with forward-thinking and decisive action to plan and prepare for growth. We are ready to welcome these new families and to help them experience what it means to be part of the Temple family!

Sincerely,

Bobby Ott