KATY, TX (KTRK) -- Voters in Katy have apparently approved a $748 million bond that will go towards school renovations and a new stadium. It was one of the most contentious items on the ballot, as the community was split over a plan that would use some bond money to build a new football stadium.
With 88.9% of the precincts reporting, the bond had 29,494 votes for and 23,811 against.
Right now, 34 classrooms at Woodcreek Junior High are in temporary buildings. That's one problem supporters of the $748 million bond hope to address by building six new schools across the district.
"This school is, I believe, about 700 kids over capacity. The principal here has done a great job, but it's a challenge, and we don't want that many kids outside," Bond committee member Shaney Maxon explained.
"We need the progress, we need to grow, because everything around us is growing faster than we are," said parent Susan Barlow. "It's going to be a great opportunity for everyone."
But there's something else inside the bond that's pretty controversial -- a $58 million football stadium.
Parent Phil Williams says he voted against the bond because of it. "To me, let it stand by itself, and let the people vote for the stadium by itself and not add it to something else," he said.
A similar bond including a new football stadium failed last year.
Maxon said, "The stadium this time is scaled down, bare bones -- 12,000 seats, a field house, a parking lot."
With a price tag of $58 million, the proposed stadium will be one of the most expensive in the United States.