At a Nov. 10 meeting, HISD trustees approved a $7.55 million guaranteed maximum price agreement with Drymalla Construction Company LLC for part of the school's construction.
The agreement covers only earthwork for the project, which includes laying the building foundations, parking lots, driveways and utilities.
"Before we can get any of the buildings started, we have to the earthwork and utilities done," Director of Facilities Planning and Capital Improvement Mark Willoughby said.
In all, construction of the school is expected to take around 18 months. The target completion date for the school is May 2024.
Willoughby said a construction agreement for the next part of the project should come before the board in January.
The new middle school will be located just south of Kerley Elementary and will have a capacity of 1,200 students.
