Northwest ISD’s board of trustees was presented with updates to several construction projects occurring throughout the district, including the status of the new Dr. Leigh Anne Romer Elementary School, new Floyd Barksdale Middle School and the Dr. David Hicks Early Childhood Education Center.
The overview
Sarah Stewart, NISD’s interim chief of facilities, broke down the completion status of each project during the April 27 regular meeting.
The new Barksdale Middle School is 95% complete and is on schedule to open for the 2026-27 school year. Construction on the front office is underway, and the flooring in the gym and fine arts areas are almost complete.
Romer Elementary School is roughly 85% complete and still is on schedule to open in August, Stewart said. With the two new schools scheduled to open for the 2026-27 school year, the attendance boundaries recently were updated to mitigate overcrowding, according to previous reporting.
The Dr. Hicks Early Childhood Center is only 65% complete, but Stewart said just 35% of the building is bricked and the rest is a material called Trespa, which is a high-pressure laminate that will go around the building.
“I am doing multiple site visits per week so I can show [our contractor] that we are pushing them [and] making sure we have the appropriate amount of staff out there to construct this building and get it finished in July for school in August,” Stewart said.
Trustee Jeff Dearing asked if there was a backup plan if the early childhood center is not completed on time.
“We haven’t had those discussions yet because I still have faith we are going to [finish construction] in July,” Stewart said.
Davis High School is 40% complete and is still expected to open by the start of the 2027-28 school year, Stewart said.
What else?
The status of other district projects include:
- NISD facilities building: 65% complete, opening in August
- Central transportation center: 10% complete, targeted opening in December
- Byron Nelson High School
- Performing arts center: 95% complete, opening in April
- Stadium: 45% complete, targeted opening in November
- Cafeteria: 45% complete, targeted opening in August
- Eaton High School
- Performing arts center: 75% complete, opening in June
- Stadium: 38% complete, targeted opening February 2027
Stewart said the Eaton High School stadium is behind schedule due to permitting issues, but contractor Pogue Construction is working to get the project caught up so it can be completed by early 2027.
Dearing asked that if the Byron High School stadium is completed by the fall, would football games be allowed at the new facility.
“We would have to talk to the town of Trophy Club just to make sure all the safety features are in and be able to handle the traffic with the construction of Bobcat Boulevard at the same time,” Stewart said.
Superintendent Mark Foust added that by the 2027-28 school year, both stadiums will be ready to host home football games.
