Boerne Independent School District announced last week that it is in the process of purchasing 70 acres of land near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Old Fredericksburg Road in south Kendall County.
The decision to enter the land deal was made May 20, and leaders say the move is to prepare for increasing enrollment projections. Last year, the school district announced it was raising the pay for school bus drivers in the wake of a nearly 1,000 increase in bus riders from the previous school year.
Because the acquisition is still in progress, district spokesperson Maggie Dominguez said Boerne ISD is not disclosing the amount it will pay for the the tract of land at this time.
Specific plans for the additional property aren't finalized, but the district said the additional land will help educators accommodate future growth.
In 2021, Boerne ISD enrolled its largest class size, surpassing the 10,000 student mark, according to a report from KENS 5. The district currently serves more than 11,500 students, and, according to demographic information available on its website, the district is projected to enroll between 15,481 and 17,739 students by the 2033-34 school year.
In comparison, districts in San Antonio are struggling to keep schools open as enrollment numbers decrease. North East ISD, Judson ISD and Harlandale ISD all have had to make recent difficult decisions about whether to close campuses.
Boerne ISD partnered with PASA Texas, a population and survey demographic consulting analyst firm, to model these enrollment projections, which are based on the area's current plans for future land use and development strategies. The report also uses birth rates, new housing construction updates, incoming kindergarten class size, and mortgage rates — which one reports says have soared in recent months — to determine the size of potential student size.
Kristin Craft, the district's superintendent, highlighted the significance of the purchase in a news release, saying it serves as "more than just an investment in real estate — it’s an investment in our students, our teachers, and our community’s future."
In the release, the district said it is evaluating options for the property's use, with leaders considering the land for a potential new school site or athletic complex.
"This is a landmark day for Boerne ISD," School Board President Kristi Schmidt said in the release. "We are planning not just for the students of today, but for the students of tomorrow — and this new land ensures we are ready for what’s next in the Boerne community."
School district leaders said they will use the community's input to help them determine how the land will ultimately be used.