TISD Agrees to Help Fund EWCHEC
The Taylor ISD Board of Trustees agreed unanimously Monday to sign an agreement for educational services with the Temple Junior College District. Under the agreement, TISD will pay $50,000 to Temple College each fiscal year for the next 20 years to help pay for construction of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center.

TISD will be able to offer its students dual-credit and college credit courses through Temple College, Texas State Technical College and any other colleges or universities that may join the center.

At the meeting, Jason Ford, president and CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corporation, said if all funding is acquired, ground will be broken for the new facility in the fall. The preliminary funding sources include the Temple College at Taylor Foundation, which will contribute $150,000 per year, the TEDC, City of Taylor and TSTC, which will contribute $100,000 each per year, and the TISD.

The agreement approved Monday also provides that if funds collected from member institutions through building use fees increase, TISD’s obligation decreases proportionately.

The amount TISD contributes to the construction debt must be approved each fiscal year.

According to Superintendent Bruce Scott, who worked with Temple College on the agreement for two weeks, the formula is based on student population at Temple College at Taylor. Once the EWCHEC is built, the formula will be based on attendance there.

“Every student who takes a course will pay $25 for building use fees,” Scott said. “And that reduces our obligation next year as other colleges join.”

Even without the participation of other colleges, the student population at Temple College at Taylor is growing 10 percent a year, Scott said. As other colleges join EWCHEC, that student population will increase at a more rapid rate, he said.

Taylor ISD board member Brad Moss said he thinks EWCHEC will be a boon to the Taylor area and that he thinks “it’s a wonderful thing.”

The EWCHEC will benefit the children of Taylor and also promote educational opportunities in Central Texas as well, president James “Bo” Stiles said.