According to a Dec. 17 district news release, the new facility serves as the new home for KISD's Therapeutic Education Program, which provides special education serves for students from kindergarten through post-secondary up to age 22, who receive specialized services for the individualized education goals.
"We want our students to have as many of the same opportunities as their peers do at a main campus because the goal is for our students to transition successfully back to a main campus," said Kirsten Allman, the executive director of special programs for KISD, in a statement. "This new building demonstrates the district's commitment to that goal and the success of every student."
Located at 4411 Louetta Road, the Therapeutic Education Center takes the place of the district's former Teaching & Learning central office building, which has since been demolished. In April 2020, district officials were able to add the project to the existing $498.1 million bond program approved by voters in 2015 due to nearly $70 million in bond refund savings.
"It's a very exciting and hopeful day for our students in our Therapeutic Education Program and our dedicated staff who serve our students with such commitment and care," KISD Superintendent Jenny McGown said in a statement. "This custom-built campus, which meets the specialized needs of our students, was made possible by the support of our board of trustees and the community's support of the 2015 bond."
According to the release, the new center has the capacity for 250 students and features two educational wings, a gym and a courtyard area, which includes an instructional play area and an exterior classroom. Designed by PBK Architects, the center also features a dedicated test apartment where students in the Life Readiness Program can practice life skills to promote independent living.
"The staff at [the] Therapeutic Education Program were instrumental in the growth of the design and the implementation of this amazing campus," PBK Architects Managing Partner Ian Powell said in a statement. "It's a special privilege to get to work with Klein ISD. We were personally motivated to work on this project to meet the educational needs of these students through strategic and detailed design."
