Texas School District Prepares to Renovate All Elementary Schools
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.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at mjones@1105media.com.