Some context
Voters approved the construction of High School No. 2 in the 2022 bond, and its athletic facilities were approved as part of the 2023 bond. In March, the board approved American Constructors as the general contractor for the project.
Given the timeline required to ensure the timely opening of the high school, administration determined the need to proceed with Phase 1 of the GMP, Chief Financial Officer Pam Sanchez said.
The details
Phase 1 is slated to include site work such as excavating and filling, paving asphalt and concrete, and constructing retaining walls, wastewater and water systems, and electrical utilities.
The new school is slated to sit on 150 acres, have a 1,500 student capacity, and include:
- A performing arts center
- A media center
- An outdoor courtyard and commons area
- A 1,720 seat competition gym and 700 seat auditorium
- Practice fields
- Competition fields for track and field, baseball, softball, soccer and tennis with an 8,000 seat stadium
What changed?
Travis County’s acquisition of RGK Ranch near the site and Phase 3 of the West Cypress Hills home development shifted the school’s enrollment capacity from 2,000 to 1,500 students, Sanchez said.
“We went back and redesigned the high school ... [with an] additional academic wing that could be added, and athletic facilities, to support up to a 2,000 campus if we needed it,” Sanchez said.
What they’re saying
Trustee Robert Aird said LTISD's lowered enrollment may not warrant the need for a new high school right now, and voiced concerns about funding its day-to-day operations or staff salaries once it opens.
“The sunk cost fallacy, meaning we've spent so much on this we should just do it, is creeping into this decision in my perspective,” Aird said. "We've been working on this for years, but what we knew when we started and what we know now are very different. ... Why are we building in phases when we don't have to?"
Trustee Erin Archer shared similar concerns, but said LTISD needs to remain competitive with other districts. Trustee Keely Cano also said the district could lose community trust if the school is delayed.
“Whether or not the community understands the reasoning behind that, I think we lose that trust of 'We're doing what we said we would do,'" Cano said. "I'm always for taking in new information and making the best decision with that. I just am really concerned that we're going to see even more decline if we have the option that we have now and we don't move forward."
Looking ahead
Phase 1 is anticipated to be complete by April, Sanchez said, while the school and its facilities are slated for a June 2028 completion ahead of the 2028-29 school year.
