Terrell Superintendent Walt Davis and Forney Superintendent Mike Smith are back at their drawing boards.
The schools are full, they say, and, now that voters have turned down some bond proposals, they will be hard pressed to find desks for the students.
Terrell has the bigger problem – both bond propositions failed. Prop. 1 would have provided money to build two new schools and upgrade buildings throughout the district. It also would have built an indoor practice facility. Prop. 2 would have built a new football stadium.
The schools are full now, Mr. Davis said Thursday, and crowding will get worse. Administrators are studying the need for portable classrooms now.
The district will go ahead with plans to change the elementary schools to kindergarten through sixth grade, Mr. Davis said, even though it will be more difficult without the additional buildings the bond program would have provided.
“Instructionally, we feel like that’s the best thing to do and we’re going forward,” Mr. Davis said.
Each Terrell elementary now houses two grades.
Forney is in better shape – five bond proposals that will build four new elementary schools and upgrade other facilities passed. Propositions that would have allowed the district to build either a freshman center or high school failed.
And the high school will reach capacity within two years, even with the new wing under construction, Mr. Smith said.
“I think obviously portables are a definite option. I think [increasing] class size is another option,” Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Davis said he’s asked his staff to finish recommendations on restructuring the schools and whether portable classrooms will be needed by mid-January.
Taking another bond issue to the voters as early as May is a possibility, he said.
Mr. Smith in Forney said he’s not sure how the district will handle the increasing number of students at the high school.
“I don’t know today, but I assure you I’ll come up with a plan,” he said.
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