Laredo ISD Provides Updates on $100M in District Construction Projects

The Board of Trustees for the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, Texas, recently received updates on a series of district construction projects totaling about $100 million, according to local news. Ongoing projects include a new academic wing for Cigarroa High School, a replacement facility for Cigarroa Middle School, a new library for Heights Elementary School, and construction of the new Kawas Elementary School.

According to Assistant Superintendent for Plant Facilities and Support Services Angel E. Velazquez, the new academic wing at Cigarroa High School will soon finish construction of Phase 1, which will house the campus’ core instruction areas. After the completion of Phase 1, demolition of the former instruction wings will begin to clear space for Phase 2, which entails the campus’ vocational shops, according to local news. The project cost an estimated $21 million and is scheduled for completion in late August 2023.

Meanwhile, the district is also planning a new, ground-up facility for Cigarroa Middle School. “This brand-new campus will replace completely the existing facility and will include instructional classrooms, fine art areas, cafeteria, two gymnasiums, special education units, and all required administration areas,” said Velazquez. The project cost $55 million and will be completed in March 2025.

The library at Heights Elementary School saw renovations to include four additional classrooms necessitated by increased enrollment, said Velazquez. The renovation project cost $3 million and will be completed by next month.

Finally, the district is constructing a new elementary school, Kawas Elementary School. “We are currently in the process of completing the construction of the new Kawas Elementary Campus,” said Velazquez. “The total cost of this brand-new facility is $16.4 million and is expected to be substantially completed by October 2023. The scope of work includes classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, and administration areas. The existing early childhood area was kept due to its good condition and will be seamlessly connected to the new building, improving the overall security of the facilities.”

Funding for all four projects comes from a 2018 Bond series election approved by LISD taxpayers, local news reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.