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

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.