Texas District Selects Program Manager for $247.7M School Bond

The Sheldon Independent School District in Harris County, Texas, recently announced that it has selected a Program Manager for a recent voter-approved bond of $247.7 million, according to a news release. Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) will spearhead the district’s new construction and renovation projects designed to match the area’s rapid enrollment growth.

Sheldon ISD’s master plan includes building a new campus for ninth- and tenth-grade students, renovations and expansions of Null Middle School and Cravens Early Childhood Academy, and district-wide facility upgrades, the news release reports. The district will also upgrade safety and security solutions in all of its facilities. Funding will also go toward upgraded technology in classrooms, as well as new school buses with GPS tracking systems, cameras and radios.

“The district is committed to providing the best education and resources for our children. The positive changes we’re making are only possible because of strong community support and involvement,” said Superintendent Dr. King Davis. “These changes will provide greater learning opportunities in the district for every age group, from infants to high-school seniors.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023 and has an estimated completion date of summer 2026.

“For some students, the new learning spaces and access to the technology will be life-changing,” said LAN Program Manager Michael Scott. “We understand the significant trust the community has placed in the district, and as we collaborate, we’re ready to help uphold that responsibility.”

LAN has previously provided project management services for Sheldon ISD. It served as the program manager for a 2016, $285-million bond program—the largest in the district’s history—that resulted in a new high school, football stadium, and elementary school, as well as the conversion of an existing high school to an intermediate school. The news release reports that since the 2016 bond passed, the district has grown by 2,100 students, or 20 percent, to a total of about 11,000 students.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.