Georgetown ISD may have a fourth middle school in the near future.

On Aug. 18 the GISD board of trustees approved a contract with Huckabee & Associates to develop a design for a proposed fourth middle school, which could be built as soon as fall 2016.

This is just the design concept to get us started, Superintendent Fred Brent said. We just know that weve got to start the design process as were moving forward and working on our learning platform.

Trustees are still determining whether an additional middle school is necessary for the district and are still completing a demographic study. However, with a completed design, a middle school could be built and open by fall 2016, said David Biesheuvel, director of construction and facilities.

I know that a demographic study is being done right now but I think with the information we have to date, [we have] a pretty good indication that well need [the middle school] by 2016, Biesheuvel said. If for some reason it says we can wait a year, we havent lost anything. The design will be done and position us to go on for construction bids whenever.

The board of trustees, however, has not made a final decision on when or if a middle school will be built, largely due to finances, but the question of necessity also remains.

We have some bonds that we have not sold yet that could go to a partial middle school but not a complete middle school, Brent said. When we start looking at our data from the reports and we see what the market trend is going to do, well have to decide do we build a partial middle school or wait, do another bond referendum, hold on to that $28 million and add that to the bond and build a complete middle school all at one time.

If deemed necessary, the firm would also be responsible for construction oversight.

Huckabee & Associates previously completed the design for the second phase of East View High School and renovations for Georgetown High School.

Huckabee worked extensively last year with the students from both Georgetown and East View high schools in developing the concept design for middle school No. 4, Biesheuvel said.

He also said the staff at Huckabee & Associates held meetings with stakeholders to develop the basis for the concept for the school as well as to understand the needs of the district.