Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

The Bushland Independent School District in Bushland, Texas—located near Amarillo, in the state’s panhandle—recently broke ground on a new elementary school. Local news reports that the new facility will accommodate enrollment growth within the district. Voters approved a $94.3-million bond in May 2021 to go toward the project. The new school is projected to open in August 2023, according to the district website.

“We’ve been working on the design and the bond for about a year and a half now,” said Chris Wigington, Superintendent of Bushland ISD. “Our district is growing pretty quickly, and we felt like it was time to build a new elementary school.”

The new elementary school kicks off a series of construction projects in the district’s queue. The new facility will house students in grades PreK-2. The district middle school will undergo a series of renovations and then house students in grades 3–5. All middle school students will move into the existing high school, and the district will build a new high school for students in grades 9–12, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2024.

The new elementary school will feature eight classrooms per grade level, flex classrooms and designated co-teaching areas, local news reports. Wigington also revealed that there will be a multipurpose outdoor courtyard with learning stations for a variety of active learning experiences.

"We are busting at the seams. All of our classes are full, and we just received two new students today," said Bushland Elementary School Principal Brandi Rankin. "We are very excited for the new elementary school. It will allow for more early childhood development for the preK through second[-graders], and then allow for our third- through fifth-graders to have their own space to prepare for their curriculum, which involves state testing."

Project renderings are available on the Bushland ISD website. The district is partnering with Dallas-based architecture and design firm Corgan for all three components of district construction.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Missouri State University Debuts Construction Education Center

    Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., recently opened a new 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation to support the School of Construction, Design, and Project Management, according to university news. The Construction Education Success Center, built onto the existing Kemper Hall, provides academic space for the school’s construction managers and cost $9.6 million.

  • A university

    Breaking Higher Education's Billion-Dollar Backlog Problem

    Strategic mechanical system design can transform campus maintenance backlogs. Here's how.

  • University of Utah Launches Utah 360 App

    The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, recently announced that it has partnered with digital engagement hub Pathify to launch a new app for the university community, according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Breaks Ground on Campus Visitor Center

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new campus learning hub and visitor center, according to a news release. The 211,000-square-foot Aplin Center will stand three stories and is scheduled to open to students in 2028.

Digital Edition