Klein ISD to hold bond election to keep up with growth

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- On the northwest side, there's a lot of earth moving to keep up with the pace of growth.

At a neighborhood playground, two toddlers named Vivian and Anthony are on the playground today but they are part of the Houston area boom and will be headed to the classroom in about three years.

Doctor Stephen Klineberg with Rice University's Kinder Institute studies growth in Houston and schools are facing more challenges than ever.

"We fund schools by property taxes and wealthy communities get much better schools and much more resources than poor areas, so the paradox of course is that schools that need the most resources get the least. And Houston and Texas are at the bottom in America," Dr. Klineberg said.

Klein ISD is one of the fastest growing districts in the state. In May, voters will decide on a $498 million bond package which would build a new high school, intermediate school, elementary school, Pre-K center and additions at three schools.

"People are moving into Texas left and right and they're moving into the Houston area in northwest Harris County is getting a huge portion of that growth," Dr. Jim Cain said.

The Klein ISD Superintendent has been an educator since 1971 and watched Klein ISD grow from 3,000 to 50,000 students.

"Growth is a natural part of what we do. We're accustomed to it. We've had nine successful bond issues since 1971 and this bond issue number 10," he said.

At last count almost 1,700 new homes and families have been added in a year to Klein ISD. Vivian and Anthony are a part of that future.

About the Kinder Houston Area Survey:

Now in its 34th year, the Kinder Houston Area Survey is the nation's longest-running study of any metropolitan area's economy, population, life experiences, beliefs and attitudes. The 2015 survey included 1,611 respondents from Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Social Science Research Solutions conducted the interviews by phone between Feb. 2 and March 4.

For more information on the survey, visit http://kinder.rice.edu/.