The three new campuses—Aldridge Elementary, Mission Elementary and Henry elementary schools—are in the final phase of construction. All projects are reported as completed, and furniture is being moved in in time for the first day of school Aug. 12, Deputy Superintendent of Operations Kathleen Brown said at the Aug. 4 board meeting.
“The final stages of construction are active and they're rapid, and there's visible progress right at the end,” Brown said. “[Staff] have been working tirelessly around the clock, making sure that we'll be ready for day one to welcome our students to these inspirational learning environments.”
Diving in deeper
Ferndell Henry Elementary School, formerly Ferndell Henry Center for Learning, will open, with some Heritage Rose Elementary School students being rezoned to the inaugural campus to accommodate growth in the FM 521 corridor of the district, according to the district website.
Allen Aldridge Jr. Elementary School will open at the renovated Bluegate Elementary School campus and consolidate students previously zoned to Bluegate and Blue Ridge elementary schools from the 2023-24 school year.
Mission Elementary School will reopen at the renovated Mission Glen campuses and consolidate students previously zoned to Mission Bend and Mission Glen Elementary Schools from the 2023-24 school year.
Meanwhile, Elementary School No. 55, which was bond-approved, was deferred to cull a bond shortfall due to rising cost estimates in October, Community Impact reported. The delay has left many community members concerned about the over-capacity classrooms in the Northwest portion of the district due to the growth of the Harvest Green and Trillium housing developments.
Additionally, the bond-approved Middle School No. 16, renamed Amy Coleman Middle School in May, will open in August 2026 and support growth in the Fresno area, per the website.
Important to note
With the opening of Henry Elementary School along FM 521, Brown said district officials have coordinated with local authorities to mitigate expected traffic congestion. A temporary traffic light is now operational, and an officer will be stationed on site during the first week of school to assist with safe student arrival and dismissal.
Zooming out
Most recently, officials have discussed the application of bond contingency funds to complete projects approved by the November 2023 bond.
In July, the board approved $12 million to repair Madden Elementary School’s foundation slab, adding to $9 million that was already allocated through the bond, and $8.2 million for the Special Education Transportation Center for Excellence, which was proposed after administration deferred the FM 521 transportation facility following reports of a shortfall in October.
Looking ahead
Of the remaining bond contingency funds, an additional $6.2 million from a 2014 bond that will fund an aquatics practice facility is expected to be presented to the board in February. Funding requests for $20.1 million life-cycle deficiency projects will also begin coming to the board starting in August, FBISD Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn said.
Guinn said that after these requests, there is $16.9 million remaining in contingency funds with an outstanding request of $2.5 million to relocate students during the Madden Elementary School repairs.
