Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas School District Prepares to Renovate All Elementary Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/28/21

The Nederland Independent School District (NISD) in Nederland, Texas, is preparing for renovations of all four of its elementary school campuses. District officials are expecting to receive design plans and a budget by August 2021, leading to an anticipated start date (for two of the schools) of October 2021. The primary goal is to keep the work within the $49.1 million budget that voters have already approved.

“[Our construction partners] are working together to look at the scope of the elementaries to make sure we can flesh out any work that would be excessive and use every ounce of dollars to get what we promised the voters,” said Superintendent Dr. Stuart Kieschnick. “We’re taking a harder look at the elementary schools because we are later in the process. The global pandemic has affected so much of the supply chain and the prices of building materials. There may not be some bells and whistles we want, but we will deliver what we promised the voters. But we have to look at it from a tighter point of view.”

Upgrades to the district’s four elementary schools—Helena Park, Langham, Highland Park, and Hillcrest—include additional classroom space for science labs and individual learning; restroom renovations; ADA modifications; and expansions to the gym, cafeteria and kitchen spaces.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the prices of materials like metal, wood and PVC are up to three times what they were when plans were made in 2018. Material and worker shortages are also contributing to slower project delivery times. In addition to the elementary school upgrades, voters have also approved upgrades to district middle schools and football stadiums, as well as the construction of a new Nederland High School.

The district is partnering with architectural firm IBI and construction supervisor H.B. Neild & Sons.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.