Waco and Midway school districts have several new buildings opening in the fall, largely the result of projects planned from 2008 bond elections in each district.

Work is still under way for additional projects in Waco. Included are a new University High School and reconstruction of Dean Highland and Bell’s Hill elementary schools.

Live Oak Classical School and Vanguard College Preparatory School will possess new buildings that are expected to be ready by the middle of the school year.

The new campus of J.H. Hines Elementary School revolves around groupings of classes by grade level. As many as 600 students are expected for the new school year.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald

Waco ISD

J.H. Hines Elementary School,
301 Garrison St.

•  Cost — About $12 million, from the 2008 bond issue

•  Students — As many as 600 are expected

The new J.H. Hines campus will serve the students from the former Hines Elementary School and those from Doris Miller Elementary School on the site of the old Hines school. The layout of the new facility revolves around “pods,” or groupings of classes by grade level. Each grade level is represented by a different color, from walls to desks and chairs. Officials said the layout will help students and parents navigate through the buidling.

Bernard and Audre Rapoport Child Care Center, 3319 N. 15th-A St.

•  Cost — $800,000

•  Students — 120, from infants to pre-kindergarten ages

The center will serve children of Waco Independent School District employees. Tuition will be competitive with other local child-care offerings. District officials hope it will be a tool for recruiting teachers and retaining them.

River Valley Intermediate School will cater to “in-between” students in fifth and sixth grades who aren’t quite middle-school students.
Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald

Midway ISD

River Valley Intermediate School,
4750 Speegleville Road, McGregor

•  Cost — $24 million, from the 2008 bond issue

•  Students — 900

River Valley will provide relief to Midway Intermediate School, which has been drawing in more than 900 students.

River Valley Principal Sarah Holland said the school was built to cater to fifth- and sixth-grade levels, where students are not not quite middle-schoolers, but older than elementary-school students.

Students will change classes, but their classes are grouped near each other. They also will use lockers, which are near classes. Also, each grade has its own gym.

Midway Independent School District’s
transportation and maintenance facility, 1208 Jewel Drive, Waco

•  Completion date — August

•  Cost — $4.9 million, from the 2008 bond issue

Midway ISD has outgrown its current bus facility and limited parking spaces exist for bus drivers and personnel. The new, 10,000-square-foot facility will house 75 buses, 25 maintenance vehicles and several pieces of heavy equipment.

Midway ISD administration building, US Highway 84,
Wickson Road exit, address not yet assigned

•  Completion date — October

•  Cost — $5.5 million, from the 2008 bond issue

The current administration building is not big enough for all of central administration, so some offices are housed at the middle school. The new, nearly 30,000-square-foot facility will allow those offices to move out of the school. The district will seek LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, labeling the facility as a green and environmentally-friendly facility.

Midway ISD’s Panther Stadium, 800 Hewitt Drive

•  Completion date — September

•  Cost $10.8 million, from the 2008 bond issue

Work at Panther Stadium includes 3,500 new seats, turf to replace the grass, a new press box, new restrooms, concession stands and additional parking.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

757-6901

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