29 Oct 1998
The Dallas Independent School District Future Facilities Task Force today presented facility recommendations to the Board of Education that includes more than $1 billion in building needs. The task force spent the past 19 months studying the district's facility needs. Site visits were made to various campuses and neighborhoods to assess conditions at schools and to check availability of land for additional sites.
"There is no question that Dallas schools have major facilities needs," said Craig Reynolds, co-chair of the Task Force. "Since the last bond issue, the district has added more than 21,000 students."
There are currently more than 30,000 students attending class in the district's more than 1700 portables. In addition, more than half of the districts facilities are more than 40 years old and many require updated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Continued enrollment growth at the rate of 5,000 more students per year has prompted the task force to look at ways to relieve overcrowding in the district's schools.
The task force is recommending the construction of 23 new schools throughout the city—18 elementary; three middle and two high schools. School additions are being recommended for 43 schools. The proposal also includes funding for science laboratories, library/media center renovations, new facilities for early childhood education, a kitchen preparation facility, maintenance for existing athletics facilities and administrative facilities, technology, real estate acquisition and design/program management. A new athletic facility to include football/soccer/track stadium; a fieldhouse, baseball stadium, soccer, softball and baseball fields and tennis courts is also a part of the proposal.
The task force held nine town hall meetings throughout the district to inform staff, parents and citizens of the district's needs.
The last bond election was December 5, 1992 for $275 million, substantially less than the $600 million in specified needs at the time.
"It is incumbent upon adults to provide the resources necessary for our children," said Reynolds. "With this much overcrowding, it is apparent that our schools have some pretty substantial needs."
The board is expected to discuss in November the need for a possible bond issue in 1999.
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