Published: May 16, 2008 03:05 pm            

District ready to begin projects

Timeline, planning already under way, architect says

By Philip Navarrette

reporter@trcle.com



The passing of Godley ISD’s bond package Saturday means the district has a busy future ahead, an administrator said.

“Now we’re in the process of getting everything going,” Superintendent Paul Smithson said. “The real hard, detailed planning is being scheduled, and we’re getting ready for the next 18 months or so of construction.”

The $27.78 million bond passed by a vote of 258-101.

The bond package provides for additions and renovations at every GISD campus, with a heavy emphasis on Godley Intermediate because it is more than 70 years old.

Work at GIS includes a new academic wing with 18 classrooms, support spaces, cafetorium, administrative offices, fine arts area. The plan includes conversion of the cafeteria into library and gym renovations.

At Godley Elementary School 12 new classrooms are planned, along with library and kitchen renovations and a new activity room.

Godley Middle School will receive new lighting, paint in the main corridors, a new front entry, new sidewalks and a canopy for bus pick-up and drop-off points. Locker rooms will also be remodeled, and a new access control system will be installed on the school’s front exterior doors.

A fine arts addition will be built at Godley High School, including a new band hall, practice rooms, locker room and storage.

Darren Kirbo of Huckabee & Associates, the architectural firm in charge of the projects, said an estimated timeline is in place and drawing work has started.

“We’re excited,” Kirbo said. “We’ve already got our teams in motion here.”

Work at the GIS should start in August and wrap up December 2009. Work at the campus will be broken up into two sections, Kirbo said.

“The new addition will be completed first by the summer of ’09, and the renovations will continue throughout the fall until December ’09.”

At GMS, work is estimated to run from August to August 2009. GES’ work should run from November to August 2009, while the work at GHS is expected to start in December and wrap up in August 2009.

Smithson thanked voters for heading to the polls Saturday and called the turnout very good.

“In recent history, that’s more voters than we’ve had in quite awhile,” he said. “We felt real good about it.”

Tax rates are expected to rise 5 cents because of the bond, bringing the projected tax rate to $1.08 next year.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.