Nearly half of all voter-approved projects will be under construction by 2014
The Houston Independent School District today announced the construction timeline for the 40 schools slated to be built or renovated under the voter-approved $1.89 billion 2012 bond program.
Click here to learn more about the bond program.
Schools were prioritized based on need, balance of projects throughout the district, site logistics, cash flow within the schedule of bond sales, and the availability of temporary relocation space for students affected by construction. All geographic areas of the district will see construction from the very start of the bond program. Seventeen of the 40 schools are included in the first phase of projects, all of which are planned for groundbreakings by the end of 2014, if not sooner.
“Last month, nearly 70 percent of HISD voters showed tremendous confidence and faith in our ability to deliver the modern campuses Houston’s children deserve,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “We are ready to move forward with the most ambitious school rebuilding effort in Texas history and deliver on our promises.”
The first two schools to break ground will be North Early College and South Early College, with design work expected to begin in early 2013 and construction starting this summer.
All of the other schools will be phased in over the next five years with all construction underway by 2017. The district’s goal is to finish all work by 2020.
The first group of schools will begin the planning and design phase in early 2013. The remaining three groups of schools construction projects will be phased in every year after that.
“HISD is committed to protecting taxpayers’ investment in these new schools,” said Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla. “Each and every design and construction contract in this bond program will be awarded based on providing the best value to our taxpayers and the best quality for our students.”
Each campus in the bond program will have a Project Advisory Team that includes parents, school staff, and community members to offer input into the design and construction process.
Group 1 Schools
Planning and Design – Early/Mid 2013
Construction anticipated to begin by end of 2014
| Condit Elementary | DeBakey High School |
| Furr High School | Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion School at Gordon |
| Grady Middle School | High School for the Performing and Visual Arts |
| Lee High School | Milby High School |
| North Early College | Relief Elementary |
| Sharpstown High School | South Early College |
| Sterling High School | Waltrip High School |
| Washington High School | Worthing High School |
| Young Men’s College Preparatory |
Group 2 Schools
Planning and Design – Early/Mid 2014
Construction anticipated to begin – Mid/Late 2015
| Bellaire High School | Lamar High School |
| Davis High School | Parker Elementary School |
| Dowling Middle School | Yates High School |
| Eastwood Academy |
Group 3 Schools
Planning and Design – Early/Mid 2015
Construction anticipated to begin – Mid/Late 2016
| Askew Elementary | High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice |
| Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center | Jordan High School |
| Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy |
Group 4 Schools
Planning and Design – Late 2015/Early 2016
Construction anticipated to begin – Mid 2017
| Austin High School | Garden Oaks K-8 |
| Jones High School | Kashmere High School |
| Madison High School | Pilgrim Academy |
| Scarborough High School | Sharpstown International |
| Westbury High School | Wharton Dual Language K-8 |
| Wilson Montessori K-8 |
In addition, the bond includes funds to improve conditions for students in all HISD schools.
Those projects include:
- $100 million for district-wide technology improvements
(Work to be done between 2013-2015) - $44.7 million to replace regional field houses and improve athletic facilities
(Begin one project per year in 2013, 2014, and 2015) - $35 million to renovate middle school restrooms
(Work to be done over 3 summers: 2014, 2015, and 2016)
- $17.3 million for district-wide safety and security improvements
(Work divided evenly among 32 quarters)
Throughout construction, the district will ensure that student safety and security is maintained and that the academic programs aren’t compromised, with particular attention to testing schedules.
There will be physical barriers between students, staff, and any areas where construction is occurring, both indoors and on the site. Construction workers will not have any contact with students, and will be required to pass background checks before entering the work areas.
As with the 2007 bond program, all new schools in the 2012 program will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards. These facilities will be energy efficient and environmentally responsible, resulting in lower operating costs for the district.