Melanie Camarena, director of construction at RRISD, provided an update on the status of a number of 2018 bond projects to the board of trustees on Sept. 24. RRISD voters approved a $508.4 million bond in November 2018.
Over the summer, crews installed new playground equipment at Blackland Prairie, Cactus Ranch, Caldwell Heights, Old Town, Pond Springs, Purple Sage and Spicewood elementary schools. Playground improvements at Double File Trail and Fern Bluff elementaries are nearing completion at this time, Camarena said. Two elementary schools—Berkman and Brushy Creek—are next in line to receive new playground equipment over the coming year, she said.
In addition, crews completed flooring projects at Forest Creek, Laurel Mountain and Wells Branch elementary schools; Canyon Vista and Cedar Valley middle schools over the summer. Two additional flooring projects are ongoing at this time, Camarena said—Live Oak Elementary School and Ridgeview Middle School. Three schools are expected to receive flooring upgrades over the coming year—Caldwell and Voigt elementary schools; and Hopewell Middle School.
Another priority over the summer, Camarena said, was the completion of 7 roofing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, projects—at Anderson Mill, Berkman, Caldwell Heights, Double File Trail, Fern Bluff and Forest North elementary schools; and Hernandez Middle School. Three schools have been slated for roofing and HVAC upgrades over the coming year—Forest Creek, Great Oaks and Spicewood elementary schools.
Crews completed a number of athletic-related projects on campuses throughout the district, with improvements including turf, track and bleacher replacements. Schools that received athletic improvements include Canyon Vista, Cedar Valley, Hernandez and Ridgeview middle schools; Cedar Ridge and Stony Point high schools. Two middle schools—Hernandez and Hopewell—will see additional athletics renovations over the coming year, with a work planned for a practice gym and a track, respectively.
Districtwide, ongoing projects include upgrades to audio visual systems, paving and keying, Camarena said. Other large-scale building and rebuilding efforts are ongoing, including Westwood High School, C.D. Fulkes Middle School rebuild, Caraway Elementary School expansion, Brushy Creek Elementary School expansion, McNeil High School and Elementary School No. 35.
