Construction of Collin College’s new Workforce Education Center at its Wylie Campus reached a milestone Friday, Oct. 23, with a topping-out ceremony celebrating progress on the facility, scheduled to open in fall 2027.

Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, mayor pro tem Gino Mulliqi and Councilmember Todd Pickens joined representatives from Collin College, Wylie ISD, Skanska, Stantec and AECOM for the ceremony.

Attendees signed the final structural beam before crews raised it into place, marking a significant step toward completion of the building.

The new center will expand workforce training opportunities in several high-demand fields, including welding, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electronic engineering technology and vocational nursing.

Health professions programs will include certified nurse aide, phlebotomy technician, electrocardiograph technician and patient care technician training. The facility will also accommodate additional skilled trades programs as workforce needs evolve.

The project represents a continued investment in workforce development and reflects the partnerships among Collin College, Wylie ISD and the city of Wylie.

Located at 391 Country Club Road, the Wylie Campus opened in fall 2020. The nearly 100-acre campus includes approximately 300,000 square feet of facilities and has capacity for up to 7,500 students.

The Workforce Education Center is expected to open for the fall 2027 semester.

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Eight candidates are seeking four seats on the Wylie ISD board. Five candidates — Bonnie Tinsley, Brett Fagan, Brandon Thomas, Sam Satterwhite and Scott Johnson — are competing for Place 2, which is open because current trustee Mike Williams is not seeking another term.

Incumbent Stacie Smith is seeking re-election to Place 1, Virdie Montgomery is seeking re-election to Place 5, and Jacob Day is seeking re-election to Place 6.

Trustees serve four-year terms and represent the district at large, allowing voters across Wylie ISD to vote in each of the four races.

Campaign finance reports filed for the election as of Oct. 22 show differing levels of reported fundraising and spending. Fagan and Satterwhite, both Place 2 candidates, reported campaign financial activity, while Smith and Montgomery filed reports showing no contributions or expenditures.

Fagan filed a report covering July 20 through Sept. 24. He reported no contributions and $3,104.66 in total political expenditures, including $348.04 in un-itemized political expenditures. 

Satterwhite filed a report covering Aug. 3 through Oct. 3. He reported $2,750 in political contributions and $2,767.86 in political expenditures. His report also listed a remaining political contribution balance of $140.20 and $700 in outstanding loans.

Campaign finance reports were not listed among the candidate documents provided for review for Tinsley, Thomas or Johnson, who are seeking Place 2, or Day, who is seeking Place 6. 

The absence of a report from the documents reviewed does not establish whether a report was filed separately or whether a filing was required at that time.

Texas Ethics Commission rules require candidates with opponents on the ballot, who expect to accept or spend more than $1,140 during the 2026 election, to file pre-election campaign finance reports. Those reports are due 30 days and eight days before the election and must be received by the appropriate school board clerk or secretary by the deadline.

The $1,140 threshold applies to transactions made in 2026. Candidates who choose modified reporting but later exceed the limit may face additional filing requirements, depending on when the threshold is exceeded.

Unopposed candidates are not required to file pre-election campaign finance reports for that election. Candidates generally must continue filing semiannual reports, even if they have no campaign activity or lose the election, until they cease campaign activity and file a final report to end their filing obligations.

Additional election information and candidate documents are available on the Wylie ISD Board Elections webpage. Campaign finance forms and guidance are available through the Texas Ethics Commission.

Voters can find polling locations, voting hours and other election information through the Collin County Elections Department.

Garland ISD’s next trustee election is May 1, 2027

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Under a nearly full moon, Sachse Cemetery became the setting for an evening of mystery, mischief and a little history Saturday, Oct. 24, as the Sachse Historical Society hosted Aunt Matilda’s Wake.

The Halloween-themed event combined theatrical storytelling with a presentation on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, giving visitors a glimpse into funeral traditions and the lighter side of mourning.

The evening began at the Sachse Museum, where guests enjoyed a meal before making their way to the cemetery. Attendees were encouraged to dress in Victorian mourning attire, period clothing or Halloween costumes.

Among those embracing the theme were Eugene Hauptmann, dressed in Civil War-era clothing, and his granddaughter, Chelsie Hargis, and great-granddaughter, Delilah Bartlett, who wore black. Bartlett completed her outfit with a traditional-style bonnet.

Former Sachse Mayor Mike Felix, dressed as an undertaker, mingled with guests before the historical society’s vice president, Rebekah McDonough, led them from the museum to the cemetery’s committal shelter for the evening’s main attraction.

There, members of the North Texas Civilian Historians joined local participants Ed Brown, the historical society’s secretary, and Matina Newsom, a senior librarian at Sachse Public Library, to bring the fictional Aunt Matilda’s questionable reputation to life.

The roughly 16-minute performance featured bickering mourners, accusations over a poorly constructed casket and speculation about hidden gold coins that might attract notorious outlaw John Wesley Hardin.

Brown portrayed a hardware store owner with a soft spot for Matilda, while Newsom defended the deceased against those who spoke ill of her.

But Aunt Matilda wasn’t about to let others have the last word. Fed up with the arguing, she rose from the dead to voice her displeasure with her funeral arrangements.

Following the performance, McDonough guided visitors to one of the cemetery’s columbaria, where Lucy Massey presented information about Día de los Muertos and its cultural and religious traditions.

Massey, originally from Mexico, explained the symbolism of skulls and La Catrina, an elegantly dressed skeletal figure representing the idea that death comes for everyone, regardless of wealth or social standing. She also discussed the importance of remembering deceased loved ones and praying for them.

The evening’s storytelling continued as guests returned toward the museum, encountering two soldiers whose conversation revealed more about Matilda’s colorful past.

Their exchange brought the fictional tale full circle, leaving visitors to draw their own conclusions about Aunt Matilda’s reputation.

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There had been 214,742 in-person voter check-ins after seven days of early voting, from Oct. 19 through Oct. 25, said Collin County Elections Administrator Kaleb Breaux.

That compared with 501,190 during the first week of early voting for the 2024 general election and 352,294 in 2022. 

Breaux also said his department had received 15,560 requests for ballots by mail that have been processed and mailed. 

Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30, at 42 locations. 

Breaux said Gay Library in McKinney, Davis Library in West Plano and the Allen Public Library had been three of the busiest locations during the first week.

Breaux said Collin County had 795,752 registered voters eligible to cast ballots in the election. But because the county now uses hand-marked paper ballots printed on demand after check-in, voters may vote at any of the 90 polling locations open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The elections administrator encouraged voters to plan for where to vote and perhaps consider voting at another location close to them that may not be quite so busy. Voting locations and wait times may be found under polling locations on collincountytx.gov/elections.

Breaux said total Collin County turnout was 69.19% in the November 2024 election and 52.56% in November 2022. 

“I think we are on pace for a possible 65% to 70% turnout for this election,” he said. “As voter participation increases and the window of opportunity to vote closes, I would just encourage voters to remain patience and vote with grace as they interact with our election officials.”

This year’s early voting got off to a shaky start on Oct. 19, Breaux said.

“We had 10 polling locations that experienced some printer outages in the first hour or so of voting,” he said. “We were able to resolve most issues by 9:30 a.m.”

Collin County switched last year from ballot marking devices (BMDs) to paper ballots that are marked by hand.

“Most voters that we hear from feel like this process takes longs a little longer and liked the ballot marking device’s help in the marking process,” Breaux said. 

But he added it was only a small fraction of voters who commented. “Honestly, it’s probably the same amount that we heard from when we had BMDs, and those folks wanted hand-marked ballots,” he said.

Proposition D on the ballot is a County proposal to issue $40 million in bonds “for the purpose of designing, developing, constructing, and equipping a new County elections and storage facility, including election department offices, election training, election storage, County records, historical documents and equipment storage.”

Breaux said the switch to hand-marked ballots added to the need for more space but was not the only factor. 

“We were part of a space study a few years ago, and the study concluded that we were in about half of the space that we should be in,” he said. “We currently have 25,000 square feet of space (give or take). The study concluded that we should be in about 55,000 square feet of space.”

The elections administrator said the hand-mark ballot equipment is taking up a larger footprint in warehouse space, but growth was also playing a part in his department’s needs. 

“We trained more than 900 workers for this election, and our training space only allows for about 40 participants at a time,” Breaux said. “This is another huge need for us also. We are just out of space here.”

Dallas County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a 2.4-cent property tax increase that county officials say would help fund efforts to reduce homelessness, address encampments and expand access to mental health and housing programs.

Dallas County commissioners approved an election order Aug. 11 calling the voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, for the 2026 tax year.

If approved, the higher tax rate is expected to generate about $102.9 million in additional revenue, according to the county.

Officials say the money would be used for programs focused on reducing homelessness and resolving encampments, increasing access to mental health treatment and supporting programs that provide stable housing.

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By Allison LaBrot | [email protected]

Several area districts offer opportunities for seniors to attend school-sponsored events at a discount or for free. Wylie ISD and Garland ISD, specifically, issue cards to seniors ages 65 and older, active-duty military personnel and veterans that act as a general admission ticket to athletic and fine arts events. 

Wylie ISD cards are accepted at Garland events and vice versa. 

Plano ISD issues discount cards to residents 60 or older.

“Each district may have slightly different criteria or name for obtaining a card, but the goals are the same: to make sure our senior citizens stay connected to our schools and provide affordable entertainment options for this valuable community,” Ian Halperin, Wylie ISD executive director of community relations & marketing, said. 

Wylie ISD has issued 200 Gold Cards this semester and more than 3,200 total since beginning over 40 years ago. Eligible residents can apply online at wylieisd.net/goldcard or by contacting Halperin at 972-429-3019. The application contains a few short questions, and the process is the same for seniors, active-duty military personnel and veterans. 

The district also allows its retired teachers to apply for the Gold Card. Recipients can choose to have the card mailed to them or to pick it up at the Educational Service Center. Once issued, the card never expires. 

In addition to high school events, the WISD card also covers junior high activities that have an admission fee. Halperin said there are some events where licensing requirements prevent the free admission benefit from being used. 

Plano ISD has a Retired Seniors Valued in Plano (RSVP) program for residents aged 60 or older. The free membership card allows for free or discounted admission to most PISD sporting and fine arts events. 

Members recently took a hosted by Superintendent Theresa Williams and Johnny Hill, deputy superintendent for business, employee services and technology.

Attendees visited Plano West Senior High School, Haggard Middle School, Plano Senior High School and the new Career and Technical Education Center. 

“I found it absolutely fascinating to see how much construction is occurring in Plano, as well as the unique types of construction,” said RSVP member Mark Ball “You’ve got schools that are being rebuilt featuring brand new things that I didn’t think about when I was in school, or my wife Jane, who was a former principal in the district, even was aware of. It really is an opportunity for the students to have such wonderful campuses.”

PISD RSVP Membership Cards do not expire and membership does not have to be renewed annually. The program provides free admission to all home games for all sports for middle school and high schools, both junior varsity and varsity. It excludes away games, playoff games and non-school events held in school facilities. 

Fine arts events hosted by the UIL are regular price with no discount or free admission, but campus performances of plays, variety shows, band, orchestra, choir and vocal music offer free admission on opening night. The RSVP offers discounted admissions only on opening night for musicals and the Drill Team Spring Show. 

For more information, or to apply for a card, search RSVP on PISD.edu. 

To receive a Garland ISD VIP pass, eligible residents can call 972-494-8580 to schedule an appointment during the window of Monday through Thursday from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Applicants must bring a government-issued picture ID or document to prove military service. Garland’s VIP passes also never expire. 

For more information, visit garlandisd.net/garland-isd-vip-pass.

Reporter Bob Wieland also contributed to this story.

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Sachse residents demonstrated their generosity during September’s Peanut Butter Drive, earning the city top honors for per capita giving in the North Texas Food Bank’s annual campaign.

The recognition comes as food insecurity continues to rise across North Texas, including in Sachse, where an estimated 3,440 residents — about 11.1% of the population in the city’s ZIP-code area — face uncertainty about having enough food.

“I’m incredibly proud of our community!” Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff said. “Sachse may not be one of the largest cities in North Texas, but our residents have shown time and again that we have a big heart.”

Read the full story in the October 22nd edition. Stay informed — subscribe to The Sachse News.

Dallas County voters will decide whether to approve a 2.4-cent property tax rate increase intended to fund homelessness prevention, encampment resolution, mental health treatment and housing programs. Separately, Collin County voters will consider $817.5 million in bond propositions, while Collin College voters will decide on a $600 million bond package.

The proposals have different purposes and potential tax consequences, depending on where homeowners live and which taxing entities serve their properties.

Dallas County commissioners approved the voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, Aug. 11. If approved, the increase is expected to generate $102.9 million in additional annual revenue, according to the county.

The proposed increase would support programs designed to reduce homelessness, resolve encampments, expand access to mental health treatment and provide stable housing.

Dallas County’s adopted tax rate for the 2026 tax year is 24.865 cents per $100 of taxable property value, including the proposed increase. The voter-approval rate is 22.465 cents, creating the 2.4-cent difference that voters will consider.

For a Dallas County homestead with a taxable value of $268,056, the county estimates an annual county property tax bill of $666.52 under the adopted rate. The proposed increase would account for about $64.33 of that amount annually.

The 2.4-cent increase is not a 2.4% increase in a homeowner’s total property tax bill. The actual cost depends on the property’s taxable value after exemptions. Homeowners can use the county’s property tax impact calculator to estimate the effect on their properties.

Meanwhile, Collin County’s four bond propositions would fund public facilities, roads, parks and records storage. Proposition A would provide $296.5 million for court facilities, adult detention and jail medical and mental health facilities. Proposition B would allocate $475 million for non-tolled road and bridge projects. Proposition C would provide $6 million for parks and open space, and Proposition D would allocate $40 million for election operations and records storage.

County administrators project Collin County’s debt-service tax rate could rise from about 4.18 to 4.19 cents per $100 of taxable value to as much as 4.95 cents by 2031. At the maximum projected increase of about 0.77 cents, a home with a taxable value of $350,000 would pay roughly $27 more annually in county debt-service taxes.

Collin College’s $600 million Proposition A would fund the second and third phases of its Destination 2030 master plan, including workforce training, career and technical education, an aviation academy in McKinney, and new or expanded campuses in communities such as Anna and Royse City.

College officials project the district can maintain its property tax rate of 8.122 cents per $100 of taxable value if the bond passes. The rate has remained unchanged since 2018, and officials do not anticipate an increase to cover the proposed borrowing.

Texas law requires bond ballots to include the phrase “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE,” even when an entity projects no increase in its tax rate.

For Sachse residents, the applicable county election depends on the county in which their property is located. Dallas County residents will vote on the VATRE, while Collin County bond propositions apply to voters in that county. Collin College’s bond proposal is a separate measure, and its potential effect depends on whether a property is subject to the college district’s taxes.

Early voting runs through Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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An air medical helicopter landing on the library lawn sent leaves flying and drew attention Saturday as families explored emergency vehicles, met search-and-rescue dogs and tried their hand at police drone technology during Sachse Public Safety Day.

The annual community event, held Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Sachse Municipal Complex, gave residents an opportunity to meet first responders, learn about emergency services and participate in hands-on activities designed for all ages.

One of the day’s highlights came at 11 a.m., when an air medical helicopter touched down near the library. Volunteers with the Sachse Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) secured the landing area and helped manage the crowd as visitors gathered to explore the aircraft and climb inside.

Nearby, Wylie Police Department Detective Blake Miller introduced visitors to drone technology used by law enforcement. Children and adults tried on drone goggles before Miller launched a drone, giving them a firsthand look at the view from above.

Four-legged first responders also attracted attention.

Members of Lone Star Search and Rescue brought search-and-rescue dogs to the event, giving visitors an opportunity to meet the animals and learn more about their work. Among the participating handlers were Chris Arnold with Ronin, Spencer Pearson with Roux and Michele Benjamin with Charlie.

At other stations, children collected fire safety information, played games and explored equipment used by emergency personnel. Malya and Miles Israel were among the youngsters who practiced walking on a simulated roof, an activity demonstrating a skill firefighters may use during rescue operations.

Fire trucks were available for visitors to explore at Fire Station No. 1, while informational booths and emergency vehicles were stationed throughout the municipal campus.

Participating organizations included Carter BloodCare, Heal-Corp Health Education and Liberty S.A.R. Dive Team. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office also offered free vehicle identification number (VIN) etching.

Sachse CERT volunteers assisted throughout the event, including helping young visitors collect educational materials and other giveaways.

The four-hour event also featured complimentary chicken sandwiches from the Credit Union of Texas food truck and ice cream from the Taha Ice Cream truck.

Public Safety Day combined entertainment with practical safety education, giving residents a closer look at the people, equipment and organizations involved in emergency response.

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Collin County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve $600 million in bonds for Collin College expansion projects and four county bond propositions totaling $817.5 million for courts, roads, parks and other public facilities.

The Collin College Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling its bond election during an Aug. 7 meeting. The proposal is part of Destination 2030, the college’s long-range master plan adopted in 2023.

The college says the bond would expand capacity in high-demand academic and workforce programs, respond to enrollment growth and provide facilities in rapidly growing areas. Credit enrollment has increased by more than 31% over the past decade, according to the college, which serves more than 62,000 credit and continuing-education students annually.

Proposition A would authorize $600 million for projects in Phases II and III of Destination 2030.

Phase II projects include workforce and academic buildings or expansions at the McKinney, Wylie, Plano Courtyard Center, Allen Technical and Celina campuses, along with a new Aviation Academy in McKinney.

Phase III would include a Health Sciences expansion at the Frisco Campus, a workforce expansion at the Wylie Campus, a workforce building at the Farmersville Campus and new campuses in Anna and Royse City. The college says the projects would expand capacity in more than 20 high-demand career and technical education pathways.

The proposed bond follows a $600 million bond approved by voters in 2017. Since then, the college says it has opened or completed projects including the Technical Campus, Wylie and Celina campuses, the Farmersville Campus, the Public Safety Training Center, the Frisco Campus IT Center and the McKinney Campus Welcome Center.

Collin College says the proposed bond is not expected to increase the district’s property tax rate, which has remained at $0.08122 since 2018. The college also estimates its annual impact on the local economy at $1.1 billion.

The college’s Committee of 100 reconvened this summer as a Master Plan Steering Committee to review facility conditions, labor-market data, projected enrollment, academic and workforce needs, financial projections and the college’s regional economic impact before trustees approved calling the election.

County bond proposals

The Collin County Commissioners Court adopted an election order Aug. 10 calling for four bond propositions totaling $817.5 million. The county’s proposals are designated as tax increases and would be repaid through property taxes.

Proposition A would provide $296.5 million for court, adult detention, medical and mental health detention, and adult probation facilities.

Proposition B would provide $475 million for non-tolled road and bridge improvements, land and right-of-way acquisitions, and joint county-state and county-city projects.

Proposition C would provide $6 million for parkland acquisition, development and improvements, including joint county-city projects.

Proposition D would provide $40 million for a new elections and records storage facility, including election offices, training and equipment storage, and space for county records and historical documents.

Under the county’s election order, approved bonds could be issued in one or more series and mature over no more than 20 years. The county would levy property taxes sufficient to cover principal and interest payments.

The order lists $1.133 billion in outstanding tax-supported debt principal and $506.3 million in outstanding interest. The county’s property tax rate is 14.9343 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, including 10.7452 cents for maintenance and operations and 4.1891 cents for debt service.

If all four propositions pass and the bonds are issued under the county’s projected financing plan, the maximum interest rate is not expected to exceed 5%, according to the order. Actual interest and tax rates would depend on market conditions, property valuations, population changes and financing decisions.

Voting information

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to register to vote was Oct. 5, and early voting runs Oct. 19-30.

Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19-23; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 24; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-30.

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Collin County voters may cast ballots at any designated countywide vote center. The main early voting location is the Collin County Elections Office, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102, in McKinney.

Voters can find registration information, polling locations and election updates at collincountytx.gov/Elections or by calling the Collin County Elections Department at 972-424-1460. More information about the college proposal is available in Collin College’s Destination 2030 and Bond 2026 materials.

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