18 Oct 2005
School is 15th Under Construction with Funds from Bond Campaign
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District officials held a groundbreaking ceremony today for Celestino Mauricio Soto Jr. Elementary School located at 4510 West Jefferson Blvd.
Students, principals and the Soto family joined Trustee Jerome Garza in honoring Soto, a military veteran and volunteer in DISD Schools and with Special Olympics.
"Mr. Soto was a servant by nature," said Trustee Jerome Garza. "Today in honoring him, he in turn inspires our students to carry on the tradition of service, selflessness and commitment for which he was known."
Soto served 15 years in the U.S. Navy and after the military served as an advocate for special needs children.
Scheduled to open in August 2006, the 91,000-square-foot school will accommodate 800 students and will include 37 classrooms, kitchen, auditorium and a cafeteria. Celestino Mauricio Soto Jr. Elementary School will relieve Mary McLeod Bethune, L.O. Donald, Anson Jones and George Peabody elementary schools.
WRA designed the school, Austin Commercial is the program manager, Turner Construction Company is the builder and Phillips May Corporation is the demolition contractor.
In January 2002, DISD passed the largest education bond program in the history of Texas. The $1.37 billion program is funding 21 new schools, almost 60 additions that include early childhood additions to present schools, and renovationsto nearly every campus in the district. Contractors are working on more than 140 school facilities, including new schools, additions to schools, and renovations to schools. For more information on the bond program, go to www.dallasisd.org/bond.
Additional bond program ceremonies scheduled for this fall are:
Ribbon-Cuttings:
Sunday, Nov. 6 K.B. Polk Elementary School (wing), 6911 Victoria Ave.
Groundbreakings:
Tuesday, Nov. 15 Frank Guzick Elementary School, 5000 Berridge Lane