Round Rock ISD has reached a new phase in its 2014 bond program with the first of three bond sales and the approval of a contractor for elementary school no. 34, which will serve the Wells Branch neighborhood and open in August 2016.
The Board of Trustees approved the closed-seal bid by Balfour Beatty Construction for $22.5 million to construct the newest elementary school to serve students in grades kindergarten through five. The project is planned to break ground in spring 2015 with a targeted completion of May 2016 to open the following school year. The total project was budgeted as $36.7 million in the bond program.
“It’s a great time to be a part of Round Rock ISD,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Flores. “The new bond projects and facilities will result in relief of overcrowding at our schools, which will create optimal learning conditions for our students. We greatly appreciate the voters supporting education and trusting us with their investment. We will continue to be accountable to our community’s expectation of providing world class schools for every student.”
The new elementary school, located west of Bratton Lane near the Sauls Drive intersection in Wells Branch, will be funded through the first of three bond sales the district has planned as part of the $299 million bond program. The February 3, 2015 pricing for the $151.3 million sale featured fixed rate bonds, priced at an interest rate of 3.02 percent. Variable rate bonds from the sale were locked in at 1.5 percent. Proceeds from the bond sale will be received February 25.
In addition to the new elementary school, the first bond sale will fund a district auditorium at Cedar Ridge High School; phase 3 of the Westwood High School Master Plan; phase 3B of the Round Rock High School Master Plan; the first phase of the McNeil High School Master Plan; technology and buses; and various capital renewal and replacement projects.
“We want to build functional spaces for our educators to thrive in and for our students to reach their full potential,” said Chief Operating Officer Ramiro Flores. “Our team is focused on engaging the communities that will be directly impacted by these new projects, meeting their needs as we grow our district and meet our obligations to our taxpayers.”
Middle school no. 11 will go out for bid in fall 2015. The project will be located on Pearson Ranch Road near England Elementary School. The district is expected to begin construction in November 2015 for completion in May 2017 and opening in-time for the 2017-2018 school year. The project has a $46.8 million budget.
Zoning for the new elementary school will start during the fall of 2015. The process will include community input before approval by the Board of Trustees in spring 2016.
Capital improvement projects are underway as well, with the approval of a $142,263 contract to Vibra-Whirl Sports, LTD for the track resurfacing project at Cedar Valley Middle School.
