As voters in the College Station school district consider a bond issue that includes three new schools, officials are working on acquiring future sites.
The CSISD board voted Tuesday night to enter letters of intent that could lead to schools in two new developments south of Pebble Creek.
District spokesman Chuck Glenewinkel says one development is on the site of the current Texas World Speedway, and the other is between the racetrack and Pebble Creek.
The board also continues to discuss future property purchases in executive session.
And CSISD voters are being asked this November to pass a bond issue that includes $5.9 million dollars to buy land, as well as build three more schools. Design work has started on a third intermediate school…subject to voter approval…next to Greens Prairie elementary. Locations have not been decided for a third middle school and a tenth elementary.
Click HERE for comments from Chuck Glenewinkel, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Click HERE to download the proposed CSISD bond projects as listed below:
Intermediate School No. 3 $38.38 million
With a total functional capacity of 1,960 combined students at Oakwood Intermediate and Cypress Grove Intermediate, CSISD will be pushing capacity at the intermediate level this year.
CSISD is projected to have 1,920 students at the intermediate level in the 2015-16 school year. Oakwood Intermediate School will have four portable classrooms beginning with the 2015-16 school year. When Intermediate No. 3 opens for the 2017-18 school year, district wide intermediate enrollment is expected to be 2,070 - 110 students over capacity.
Middle School No. 3 $51.37 million
With a total functional capacity of 2,000 combined students at A&M Consolidated Middle and College Station Middle, CSISD is expected to surpass its capacity at the 7th and 8th grade levels by the time middle school No. 3 would open in 2018-19.
CSISD is projected to have 1,830 students at the middle school level in the 2015-16 school year. A&M Consolidated Middle School will have four portable classrooms beginning with the 2015-16 school year. When Middle School No. 3 opens for the 2018-19 school year, district wide middle school enrollment is expected to be 2,070 - 70 students over capacity.
Elementary School No. 10 $24.22 million
CSISD opened its ninth elementary campus (Spring Creek Elementary) in July 2015 to increase its elementary capacity to 5,800 students. The district is expecting to have 5,580 students in the elementary grades during the 2015-16 school year and by the 2018-19 school year, when elementary No. 10 would open, CSISD will have an estimated 6,220 elementary students - 420 over capacity.
Renovations to current Intermediate and Middle School Campuses $3.63 million
Flexible Instructional Spaces. Most College Station ISD elementary and all high schools have been designed with flexible instruction spaces for teachers and students. A portion of this project would change two existing classrooms at each current intermediate and middle school into collaborative learning areas that could be used by any teacher, class or group of students on campus.
A&M Consolidated Boys’ and Girls’ Locker Rooms. Both the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms at AMCMS are undersized for the number of students participating in PE and athletics. This project would renovate existing space and add square footage, lockers and showers to make them comparable with College Station Middle School and the proposed Middle School #3.
Cypress Grove Additional Restrooms. Compared to other 5th through 8th grade campuses in CSISD, Cypress Grove has fewer restrooms, and the restrooms are a long walk for students in some portions of the building. This project would increase the total number of fixtures and improve access for students.
Oakwood Entrance. This project would improve the entrance area facing Holik street by relocating the choir room and opening up the front area to use as a welcoming and multipurpose commons area similar to other newer schools in the district. This area would facilitate the ease of entrance to the campus for students, parents and visitors.
Buses $1.6 million
With the addition of new campuses comes additional bus routes and the need for additional buses. This money will be used to replace all route buses that are 13 years old, or older and account for buses needed for projected additional routes at three new campuses.
Technology $5.6 million
Technology use is CSISD is increasing rapidly. The money in this project is targeted toward infrastructure needs including cabling, server upgrades, storage area network, phone upgrades, and additional wireless access points. As many of the devices in the district age, funds from this project would also be used to replace our oldest desktop computers, laptops and tablets.
Deferred Maintenance $5.2 million
CSISD has an ongoing need to address capital projects that involve mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing systems, roofs, flooring and foundations. Many of the CSISD campuses will receive significant attention for capital needs.
While the district does have some money in its annual budget for routine maintenance, this portion of the 2015 bond package would address big ticket items like upgrading interior finishes, repairing or replacing HVAC systems, roof replacements and repairs, new lighting, and sitework to improve drainage.
Campuses which would benefit from these renovations and repairs include A&M Consolidated High School, A&M Consolidated Middle School, College Station Middle School, Cypress Grove Intermediate, Oakwood Intermediate, Rock Prairie Elementary, South Knoll Elementary, and Southwood Valley Elementary.
Land Acquisition $5.9 million
College Station ISD anticipates surpassing the 13,000 student mark during the 2015-16 school year. The latest demographic studies performed by an outside professional demographer have indicated the student population in CSISD could exceed 25,000 students at “buildout.” As the district continues to grow, so does the need for parcels of land to build future facilities.