Category Archives: 2012 bond

Lawson MS hosts beam signing celebration

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Huge smiles could be seen throughout the Lawson Middle School courtyard as students headed outside to scribble their signatures on what will be the final beam to be erected as part of their new school.

The southwest Houston middle school is among 40 schools being renovated or rebuilt as part of the 2012 Bond program. The signed beam will be the last piece of steel installed, as the $59 million project is nearly one-third of the way complete.

“We are overjoyed at the feeling of knowing that the school is on the mark to be completed by the end of the school year,” said Lawson Principal Tynette Guinn. “The kids are excited to be a part of history.”

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Texan Proud: Lamar HS ushers in groundbreaking for 80-year anniversary

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Eighty Lamar High School graduates armed with shovels lined the school’s front lawn on Thursday, eager to break ground on a new campus as they celebrated the 80th anniversary of their beloved alma mater.

Graduates spanning eight decades each had the opportunity to dig into the dirt, formally marking the start of construction on the $108 million project.

“This is an exciting day for us,” said Lamar Principal James McSwain. “It’s a day that the school community has been looking forward to for many years.”

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Scarborough HS community gathers to celebrate the start of construction

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Standing before a packed auditorium, Scarborough High School Principal Diego Linares thanked the school community for passing the district’s 2012 Bond Program — a move that he said began the renewal of the 50-year-old campus.

The school is making great progress, Linares said, noting that students are meeting state standards and the campus boasts of having the most Futures Academy graduates in HISD. The renovation work underway will simply serve to strengthen and complement the campus.

“We are the school that builds upon the strengths of its students, rather than focus on their deficits. We are a school that views failure as a temporary rather than permanent state,” Linares said. “Now, we can say we’re the school that’s on the verge of providing the most functional building to meet the student’s needs.”

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Excellence – Whatever it Takes: Sam Houston motto rings true as construction begins

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The excitement was palpable as the Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center Mariachi Band began to perform on Friday, formally kicking off the celebration designed to mark the start of construction on their new school.

Blustery winds didn’t stop dozens of students, teachers, parents, and alumni from gathering in the school parking lot to witness the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Sam Houston — part of the 2012 Bond Program — and catch a peek of the construction that already is underway.

“I believe strongly that our students deserve a state-of-the-art school,” Sam Houston Principal Alan Summers said. “Not only because they deserve to go to a school that looks good, but also because they deserve to be in a building that has facilities to help prepare them for life after high school.

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Rain or shine: Parker ES makes headway despite weather delays  

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Construction on the new Parker Elementary School — Houston’s original music magnet — is almost 25 percent complete with the steel structure already in place and build-out of the interior walls underway.

“Things were very slow in the beginning due to rainy weather, but since the walls have gone up, things have been moving along quite quickly, said Parker Principal Lori Frodine. “We prefer a quality job rather than a rushed job, so we are very happy to see that.”

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Washington HS students and staff sign beam for new building 

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Students and staff at Booker T. Washington High School had the opportunity on Friday to add their signatures to a steel beam being used in the construction of their new school, which is part of HISD’s 2012 bond program.

“It’s great to see the steel beams and columns going up,” said Washington Principal Carlos Phillips. “We’re happy about the progress and can’t wait to move-in next year.”

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Codwell ES and Sterling Aviation HS celebrations focus on neighborhood schools

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Brenda Zackery doesn’t mind all the trucks and construction noise at Codwell Elementary across the street from her house on Tavenor Lane, part of a $12.5 million renovation of the school.

“I was upset when they closed it,” she said of the building, which was shuttered to students in 2014 because of moisture problems. “I had gotten used to the kids waking me up in the morning. It will be good for the community when they reopen it.”

Workers didn’t pause on Friday as neighbors, parents, students, and HISD staff gathered at the school site to officially celebrate the construction with a groundbreaking ceremony. The event was part of a milestone day for HISD’s South Area feeder pattern community, which also included a grand-opening celebration for the new Sterling Aviation High School just down the street.

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Sam Houston MSTC community gathers for construction update 

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About 75 parents and community members had “Coffee with the Principal” on Friday morning at Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center, where they were entertained by the schools talented mariachi band before being updated on the progress of their new school.

The school is being built as part of HISD’s 2012 bond program. Representatives from Satterfield and Pontikes, the construction management firm on the project, made a brief presentation before taking questions from the crowd.

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Askew ES community hears construction update on new school

Parents and neighbors gathered Tuesday at Askew Elementary to learn more about the construction of their new school, which is being built as part of HISD’s 2012 bond program.

“Construction is well underway. We’re moving and we’re moving fast,” Jorge Huerta, Askew’s project manager told the group, many of whom cheered the announcement.

The new school has a target opening in the third quarter of 2018, in time for the start of the new school year. Crews then will demolish the old building to make way for a parking lot and playgrounds, work that is expected to be completed by the end of that year.

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Milestone ceremonies planned this week for Codwell ES, Sterling Aviation HS

The South Area feeder pattern on Friday will host milestone celebrations at Codwell Elementary School and Sterling Aviation High School to showcase improvements and investments in South Area schools.

The event will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony at Codwell Elementary, which is receiving a $12.5 million renovation that will allow it to reopen to students. The event will conclude at Sterling Aviation High School, which will celebrate its new 237,000-square-foot facility, which was constructed as part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

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