Posted 11:28 pm Thursday, December 29, 2011
Brownsboro ISD Prepares Spot For Newest School
By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
BROWNSBORO -- Preparation has begun of the site where the new $13.6 million Brownsboro Elementary School will be constructed one mile west of town on Texas Highway 31.
It will replace an elementary facility in downtown Brownsboro and is part of a $27.26 million bond package that also includes remodeling and converting the old elementary school for use by Brownsboro Junior High, a major addition and renovation of Chandler Elementary School, improvements at the high school and other projects.
"I know that when the facilities are done, the taxpayers will be real pleased. They are beautiful, beautiful facilities for the kids," Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran said.
The new Brownsboro Elementary School will contain 75,300 square feet for prekindergarten through the third grade.
It will be built on a 56-acre tract of land.
The site originally consisted of 25 acres donated by John Rash and 25 acres purchased by the school board.
Later, the board purchased six more acres in order for a driveway easement for the school to connect to a cross-over on Texas Highway 31, eliminating the need for motorists on the highway to make a U-turn to enter the school grounds.
That arrangement will be safer, the school can be moved to be more visible and the district will save money on dirt work that would have been necessary because of the elevation and typography at the originally planned site, Moran said.
The new school will be configured in three wings containing a total of 28 classrooms. One wing will be for prekindergarten and kindergarten, a wing for first- and second grades, and a wing for third grade.
Currently, Brownsboro Elementary has approximately 400 students. In preparation for an anticipated increase in enrollment, the new school will have a capacity for about 700 pupils.
To be built with the potential for school growth, the wings will facilitate additions if the district needs to add on in the future, Moran said.
The classrooms will have modern technology and wireless connectivity.
In addition to the classroom wings, the school will include administrative offices, a larger library, a larger cafeteria with a stage and approximately 135 parking spaces.
It will alleviate a lot of crowding issues with traffic and safety concerns at the present site, Moran said.
The new Brownsboro Elementary is anticipated to open in January 2013. If weather slows construction, the opening might be delayed until spring break 2013, Moran said.
Brownsboro Junior High will benefit from the elementary school moving into its new facilities because the old elementary school will be converted to serve the neighboring existing junior high at a cost of about $2.9 million, Moran said.
Currently, the junior high uses several satellite buildings for science labs, elective classes and a gymnasium. Students cross a city street to reach some of the buildings and there has also a flooding problem at the old elementary school for years caused by water running down a hill and in front of the school, the superintendent said.
Renovation of the old elementary to serve the junior high will solve the flooding problem and eliminate the need for students to use the satellite buildings, Moran added.
The renovated old elementary is scheduled to be ready for use by the junior high in August 2013.
A major addition and renovation of Chandler Elementary School, estimated to cost $8.8 million, is scheduled for completion in August.
Construction manager at risk for all the projects is WRL General Contractors of Flint. The architect is the Tyler firm of Eubanks, Harris, Roberts, Craig Architects Inc.
The school board is using a bond issue that voters approved in August 2010 to fund the various construction projects.
Taxes to retire the school district's debt increased 25 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. The tax for the interest and sinking fund increased from 10 cents per $100 property valuation to 35 cents. But the tax for maintenance and operations has remained unchanged at $1.04 per $100 assessed property valuation.
Brownsboro ISD serves a large geographic area including the towns of Brownsboro, Chandler, Coffee City and Moore City. It extends south almost to Frankston, over to Lake Athens and up to the Van Zandt County line.
